Family Eating Meals Expected Food Diners Customs Prayer

Traditionally, American families ate their meals together. However, in recent years, "hectic" (busy) schedules have led to fewer opportunities to share meals, and many families report eating together as a family only on "special occasions" (holidays; times when something is being celebrated). These family meals "tend to be" (are usually) more formal than "ordinary" (regular, common) and the "diners" (the people who are eating) are expected to follow certain customs and traditions.

The food is placed in "serving bowls" at the center of the table. Diners are expected to serve themselves from the closest serving bowl and then pass it to the next person. Nobody should begin eating until everyone has been served.

In a Christian family, the "head of the family" (leader, traditionally the father) usually "says grace" (prays aloud) while everyone "bows their head" (looks downward) with eyes closed. The prayer usually thanks God for the food and for the opportunity to spend time together. When the prayer ends, everyone says "Amen."

If there is a large "roast" (a large piece of meat that has been cooked slowly for a long period of time), turkey, or ham, the head of the family uses a special "carving knife" to "carve" (cut into slices) the meat and put a piece on each person's plate.

The diners are expected to "engage" (participate) in "small talk" (friendly, unimportant conversation). Cell phones, television sets, and other "distractions" (things that take away one's attention) should be turned off so that the diners can interact with each other, though that may not be a common expectation with some families today.