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Behold: The Magic of the Dining Room Table

I know that most people our age don't eat at the kitchen table; I know this because we are often guilty of parkin' it on the couch with take out.  Our July challenge has been to avoid delivery if possible (and really, OF COURSE it's possible to avoid if we can just get past that laziness exhaustion).  So far, we're doing okay.  Not the best ever, but we haven't ordered delivery.

We went out to dinner last night with Momma Porch and my fabulous sister-in-law to Demera in Uptown for Ethiopian cuisine.  Porch and I have eyed this place with each passing on foot and in the car and I suspect we've just been waiting for a brave house guest to share the experience with!  Cue Momma Porch!  We all headed over for dinner and oh. my. GOD.  Best dinner ever. I wish I were kidding.  I feel like the past 28 years of my life have been sheltered from some amazing food.  We went for the family-style dining experience and I am so glad we did.  Sharing the food and getting to share our reactions and opinions was half the fun.  Los Porchs highly recommend it and will likely return in the near future.  Well.  After July's no-take-out challenge.

July's No-Take-Out-Challenge.

Damn.  It just LOOKS daunting.  This?  Is why I hate challenges.

There's something magical about family-style dining.  There's a reason we require it in our Head Start programming.  It brings people together.  It makes dining a genuine experience rather than a stuffing-of-the-faces.  It helps the participants to develop a positive relationship with food rather than a negative one.  It's easy to over-stuff one's self when mindlessly shoveling food into one's face... when seated at a dining table with back and forth conversation, it gives one's brain a better opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the fullness and satisfy rather than satiate one's body.

Mind-blowing, I know.  As someone who struggles with an unhealthy relationship with food, it's easy for me to appreciate a positive connection with the food I put into my face and the benefits of eating health(ier) -- not eating buffalo wings and pizza every day......... not that I wouldn't if I thought I could survive.  Seriously?  Bleu cheese dip and wings?  I'm there.  OMG Wingstop!!

And maybe it's because it reminds me of my childhood; growing up, your ass was at dinner unless you were sick (and then later we were excused for work, school functions, and pre-made arrangements).  You didn't have to eat everything, but you had to show up.  And as much as that may have sucked back then, I can't thank my parents enough for that experience.  I fully intend to force the same house rules on any future Porchian offspring.  Like that?  Porchian?  Damn right.  

Where's your favorite place to eat dinner?
I think ours is the couch (hoping to break that habit this month)...

XO
Mrs. Porch


(It goes without saying, but here it is again, I didn't receive anything for promoting Demera and it's awesomeness.  It's a local place that I fully intend to frequent and want to share with the world.  Enjoy.)

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