Elements of Intentional Family Meals Family meals are a good place to start becoming more intentional as a family. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your family that will help you make your mealtimes more intentional. Women often bear this burden alone, but unless one family member loves doing all the planning and shopping, it is best to involve other family members. The more people involved in planning a family ritual, the better the ritual is likely to be. As with planning, putting the burden of cooking on one person can dampen that person's enthusiasm for the meal ritual.
Some adults share the meal preparation and involve the children more actively as they become older.
Even very young children can help set the table. Even if you don't have a separate dining room, you can create ritual space in the kitchen using candles and music. Turn the television off if family connection is the goal, and take newspapers, bills, and lunch boxes off the table. Predictability increases the likelihood of a smooth transition to the meal. This does not necessarily mean the same time every night, if schedules don't permit.