How many dishes/plates/bowls of food are on your table to serve from? - Page 2

[Llyra]

For everyday eating, I'm big on one-pot meals.

We do bring the dishes to the table and serve there. My kitchen has no table in it (well, just a little tea table) and it's quite a walk to go back there every time a toddler wants more of something. My kiddos are all too little to reliably carry a full plate that far, too.

[Elecampane]

I typically plate in the kitchen. We have a small table but I do have a wooden lazy Susan in the middle where I keep extra napkins, salt and pepper, condiments, etc. There is usually enough room on it for one or two small dishes, so occasionally I will put salad or veggies out to be served at table. But mostly I plate everything in advance. DH is easily confused by sauces etc. (what is this for?) so it's just easier all around if dinner is plated.

[arb]

Ellyn Satter (in _Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense_) talks about the benefits of serving dinner family style (from bowls and platters at the table) and letting children serve themselves. I like her idea but it's true that it creates a lot of extra dishes to wash so I don't always do it.