Mealtimes can create battle zones, but it's easy to turn them into a fun time that will foster great memories. Eating together as a family helps to create a sense of belonging.

Watch food disappear as kids become excited about doing something different. Remember, any alternative to the norm will be fun so you don't have to overcomplicate it. Write your special dinner on the family notice board as a reminder and let everyone look forward to it all week.

Here are some suggestions:

Movie night food themes

Make movie night at home even more memorable by having a themed meal - Pooh Bear Honey Chicken or Jungle Burgers. Chat about the film and have a quiz.

Chef of the week

Let children help you make their favourite meal, once a week each. Dress them up, and let them run the show - cooking, preparing the table and announcing dinner.

Fondue Fridays

Once they try it, children will beg for it every week. They seem to eat more this way as they focus on perfecting the act of dunking.

What do you think?

Write questions on 20 pieces of small paper, fold and place in a container on the table. Pass it around every few minutes so everyone takes a turn at picking a question and answering first.

Monday manners night

Make manners the focus one night a week. Make it light and fun, giving tokens for specific good manners shown, and see who gets the most tokens.

Treasure hunt dinners

Create six small snack meals in little bowls with covers. Think easy - this is meant to be fun for parents too. Hide bowls around the house and garden, and write clues to help kids find them. Read the first clue to give them the initial idea. Older siblings can help the younger ones and use pictures if they can't yet read. When everyone has eaten the snack they get the next clue.

Home picnic

Eat off the family picnic blanket on the back lawn, in the middle of the lounge floor, or in the car to be extra silly.

Family legend

Start a tradition called ‘family legends' where, over dinner, a parent tells a story about their childhood. Older children will love to add stories they recall about their own childhood.

Breakfast for dinner

A regular treat in your dinner repertoire could be letting
your kids choose breakfast for dinner, maybe eggs and cereal.

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