• Start Here
  • About Christina – Juggling Real Food and Real Life
    • Companies I Work With
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Juggling Real Food and Real Life

Real Food. Real Life. Real Fun.

  • Home
  • Real Food Recipes and More!
    • Easy and Delicious Recipes for Busy Mamas
      • Real Food Beverages
      • Real Food Breakfast Recipes
      • Real Food Lunchbox Favorites Recipes
      • Real Food Dinner Recipes
      • Real Food Soup Recipes
      • Real Food Fruit/Vegetable Side Recipes
      • Real Food Snack Recipes
      • Real Food Dessert and Healthy Treat Recipes
      • Real Food Crock Pot Recipes
    • Plan Your Meals
    • Real Food Tips and Tricks
    • Kids In The Kitchen
    • Pantry Essentials
  • Shop Juggling Real Food and Real Life
  • Welcome to the 10-Week Real Food Journey!
  • Real Life
    • Freedom From Clutter in 40 Days
    • Life is a Celebration!
      • Celebrate Fall!
      • Celebrate Senior Year!
  • School Lunches
    • Real Food School Lunch Hub
    • Favorite School Lunch Supplies
  • Youth Sports Parenting
    • The Dance Mom Hub
    • The Soccer Mom Hub

Real Life

Juggling Real Food and Real Life’s Guide to Table Manners for Kids

When I was 16, my great-grandmother gave me her copy of the book “Emily Post’s Etiquette.”  It was rather warn from use, but still a beautiful book.  Blue cover………yellowed pages……..I was thrilled to receive such an important book for my birthday.  Tucked inside was a note to me from my great-grandmother about the importance of manners.  She informed me that with good manners, I could go anywhere I wanted to in life.  And she would know……..after her death at the age of 99 we learned that she was raised on an Indian reservation in Canada.  She ran away and came to the United States and eventually became the society woman that I always knew her to be.

On several occasions, I have been surprised at how my basic manners have been complimented.  Are simple manners really that noticeable in this day and age?  Do manners still matter?  You bet they do!
In the busyness that is today’s lifestyle, we must not forget to teach our children basic table manners.  After all……….you never know when they might be asked to dine with the President or the Queen.
Here is a basic checklist for teaching our children to be well-mannered at any dinner table.
 
1. Come to the table with clean hands, face, and clothes.
2.  Put your napkin on your lap.
3.  Begin eating when others start or when instructed to begin.
4.  Don’t reach for things at the table.  Asked for items to be passed.
5.  My pet peeve……..keep things passing around the table.  Don’t set items down in front of you until they have made it around the table.
6.  Say, “Please” and “Thank you” as food items are passed.
7.  Keep elbows and (heaven forbid) other body parts off the table.
8.  Chew with your mouth shut and do not speak until you have swallowed your food.
9.  Don’t make rude noises at the table.  My family thinks burping at the table is hilarious, but it really is rude.    I’ll keep working on this one.  I wish I could say it was just the boys……..
10.  Thank your host and/or whoever prepared the meal.  Make sure kids know to thank parents when they go to visit their friends.
 
Bonus Tips:
11.  Offer to help clear the table and clean up.
12.  Never, Never, Never complain or express displeasure for the meal that has been prepared.  Your host has worked hard to prepare the meal.  It may not be all of your favorites, but that does not change the effort your host put in to prepare the meal.
Remember that simple manners do matter, but the good news is that they are easy to teach.  Use this checklist and soon your children will be able to dine anywhere with confidence.
Are you intentional about teaching your children table manners?  What did you find to be the most difficult to teach?  Do you think
 
If you are looking for help in making the transition to eating more real food, you should check out the Real Food Experience posts. You can get get started at the beginning or jump around the challenges. You can find a complete round-up of the program here. Each week’s challenge is full of terrific advice to help you transition from fast and processed food to a real food diet. Changes that will help you to live a healthy lifestyle and have the energy to keep up with your busy schedule. I would also love for you to join me on social media. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram on a regular basis. Leave me a comment and let me know you are there. I love to visit with my readers. Yes, I’m a real person.

 


If you are interested in purchasing Emily Post’s book you can find it using my Amazon affiliate link.  The price is the same if you use my link or go directly to Amazon, will receive a small referral fee if you use my link.  Thank you.


Leave a Comment

« Family Dinner Conversation Starters: Sports and Activities
Using the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Lists to Shop Can Really Save You Money on Your Grocery Bill »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo
Food Advertisements by

Welcome!

Too much to do and too little time? I'm here to help you get real food to the table and keep your sanity.

Let me help you find what you are looking for.

Make a positive change in your life!

 

Kids In The Kitchen

SPONSORS

logo
Food Advertisements by

Latest from our Instagram

Goodbye September. Welcome October!! How are you e Goodbye September. Welcome October!! How are you enjoying all of cozy vibes this season?  #fall #cozy #cozyvibesonly #fallvibes🍁
What’s harder: figuring out what’s for dinner What’s harder: figuring out what’s for dinner OR packing school lunches?
What’s one meal you are planning this week that What’s one meal you are planning this week that your family will actually eat?
“When you are reluctant to change, think of the “When you are reluctant to change, think of the beauty of autumn.”
🍂 Homemade Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Waffles 🍂
Nothing says cozy fall mornings like waffles fresh off the griddle! These whole wheat pumpkin spice waffles were the perfect, delicious start to our Sunday morning. 🧇✨

🎃 Recipe coming soon – you’re going to love how simple, wholesome, and perfectly spiced they are. Stay tuned!

#PumpkinSpiceSeason #RealFoodBreakfast #SundayMorningVibes #HealthyWaffles #FallFavorites
#
⸻

🍁✨ Fall is Here – and So is the Fun! ✨🍁

If you’re looking for inspiration to make this season extra special, you are in the right place. ❤️ Juggling Real Food and Real Life is the place to be for cozy fall vibes, real food recipes, and ideas to make everyday life feel like a celebration.

Here’s what’s new on the blog:
🎉 What to Celebrate in September – Fun little holidays + everyday ideas to make this month memorable.
☕ Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte – Skip the coffee shop, make your favorite fall drink at home with real ingredients.
👵👶 Fall Fun with Grandkids – Sweet and simple ideas to connect across generations and make the most of autumn together.

Grab your favorite blanket, pour a cozy drink, and come hang out with us. 🧡 Fall only comes once a year — let’s make it count!

➡️ Check out all the new content here: https://jugglingrealfoodandreallife.com/

What’s your favorite thing about fall? 🍎🍂 Tell us below! 👇
🎉 Juggling Real Food and Real Life is officiall 🎉 Juggling Real Food and Real Life is officially a teenager! 🎉

13 years ago, I hit publish on my very first blog post. Back then, my kids were still young, and I was deep in the “mom life” of packing lunches, rushing to practices, and trying to figure out how to keep real food on the table without losing my mind. 🍎🥦

Fast forward to today, and here I am—a grandmother! 👵💖 Life looks a little different now, but the heart of this community hasn’t changed. It’s still about juggling the busyness of life, making space for the people we love, and finding joy in real food (and real moments).

I never imagined that this little corner of the internet would become such a special part of my life for over a decade. Thank you for being here—whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or just found me recently. You are the reason this space is still going strong. 💕

Here’s to 13 years of memories, lessons, recipes, and laughter… and to many more ahead! 🥂

Drop me a comment and tell me how long you’ve been hanging out here—I’d love to know!
Just a little reminder for your day… you really Just a little reminder for your day… you really are amazing! 💚 Keep juggling life, real food, and all the little moments that make you, YOU.
✨Long rehearsals = lots of energy!✨ Young danc ✨Long rehearsals = lots of energy!✨
Young dancers need more than sparkly costumes and strong muscles—they need the right fuel to stay focused and energized all class long. 💃🥗

Balanced meals with carbs + protein + healthy fats are the secret to avoiding mid-class crashes and powering through those long practices. And don’t forget water—hydration is just as important as the food they eat! 💧

👉 In Part 1 of my new series on Fueling Young Dancers with Real Food, I’m sharing simple tips and snack ideas to help dancers shine at the studio.

What’s your dancer’s favorite pre-class snack? 🍎🥜

#FuelingYoungDancers #DanceMomLife #DanceNutrition #HealthySnacksForDancers #RealFoodForKids #BalancedEnergy
Follow on Instagram
logo
Food Advertisements by

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Real Food for Busy Moms: Kick Off the 10-Week Challenge!

How to Reset Your Real Food Habits This Fall

Easy Crockpot Baked Apples That Make Your Whole House Smell Amazing

3 Easy Greek Yogurt Desserts (with Lunchbox Twists for Busy Moms & Kids)

Buttermilk Pumpkin Spice Waffles – The Cozy Sunday Morning Tradition You’ll Want to Keep

Want more? Check out the archives.

Copyright © 2025 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in