I usually never comment on these polls , but this one really got to me. I can't imagine eating in front of the TV most nights. We have always had dinner at the kitchen table. Soft music, pleasant conversation, a focus and appreciation of the food prepared and cleaning up together make dinner a special part of each day. We are lucky to be able to eat on the patio for about 3 months each year and we have a lovely garden view from the kitchen window in the other 3 seasons.

I voted "other" because it really depends. If it's cold (late fall, winter, early spring) or inclement, we eat in the dining room. Otherwise we eat on the screened-in porch, nestled in dense shade trees. Unless there's must-see TV (usually sports: our favorite college basketball team, Tour de France, etc.), then we'll eat in front of the TV.

We eat in the dining room we built off the kitchen. When we bought the house the former owners had been using the house's only entry as a place to put their dining table. There was a bunch of studs outlining another room next to that so our little dining room went there and we made a proper entry way. Then we gutted the kitchen and remade it. There is no TV service here so we don't have that competing attraction.

I got such a kick out of a comment my SIL made. She was telling us about how she eats dinner while watching *The Biggest Loser*.

Out on the patio as much as possible. On the weekends- all three meals.

Margo.....that's hilarious !

I know Mark, and it did EVERYTHING in my power to swallow my tongue, lol.

Monday through Saturday it is just me and my husband at the island in the kitchen. But, every Sunday 3 seasons a year it is the dining room with candles, linens, 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 3 granddaughters. Summers it is on the deck overlooking the yard and pool. Trying to slow life down a bit and teach the next generation that making an extra effort will gain you much more than you give. Oh, and I must confess our guilty secret. In the winter, after work, it is often Netflix in front of a cozy fire.

We eat dinner 3/4 of the time outdoors at our deck table. It is so relaxing and you don't to have to look at the mess in the kitchen when you are enjoying the meal and conversation.

Always in the dining room, For breakfast lunch and dinner, with cloth napkins and a table cloth and stemmed glasses. No tv cellphones or laptops. Good food, good conversation and something interesting to drink. 3 generations at every meal

Just hubby and me now so we eat at our island with music playing. If our 2 sons are here we are at the kitchen table which seats 6. If 7 or more are dining we are at the dining room table. We always play music unless there is a big sporting event on.

On patio, weather permitting!

I have three kids at home and insist on family dinners. Studies say this is better for the kids, and it does give us all time at the table together to talk. I have two teenagers who would otherwise avoid parents at all costs.

So, we eat at the dining room table most nights. Not sure what will happen when they leave home.

These long summer days, many of people eat with their family in open yard space.

We have dinner here most nights.

None of your business. I live in a frat house, not a home.

^ May I extend my sympathies;)

We (my husband and I) either eat on our deck or on zabutons on the living room floor picnic style at our coffee table. We never eat at our dining table, although we love it, unless we have guests. No TV!

I voted open concept kitchen/dining area. 6 nights/week we eat at the table together, which is located in the dining area just off the kitchen (and open to the playroom). It has a beautiful view of the woods behind our house. About once/week I let my daughter eat at the breakfast bar and watch tv. No food is allowed in the living room (for self-preservation!). No tv, cell phones, or other viewing devices are in the dining table area!

@iowavette I realize you are only a college kid, but this is a poll -- you are not required to answer it. There's no reason to be obnoxious. Most of the college kids I know aren't so snarky.

All summer long as many meals out on our deck as weather permits

It's just my husband and me. We talk to each other about our day all day long. So, when we sit down to dinner, I don't have any problem with the fact that we sit in front of the TV and watch a movie or TV show together while we eat. The only meal we usually have in the dining room is Sunday breakfast/brunch. Every Sunday we have a nice meal and read the New York Times and talk about what we read. It's become a nice habit. But, weeknight meals -- we're in the family room, watching TV.

By the way, I'm really struck by the judgmental tone coming from those who apparently think it's monstrous to eat in front of the TV. We don't have kids. We also don't have a TV in the bedroom. So if we want to unwind after a workday with a meal in front of the TV, I don't think it's a sign that our marriage (or civilization as a whole) is crumbling. If we had kids, we would no doubt be eating meals in the dining room. But, geez, people -- why can't you do what you want to do without making nasty comments about what others like to do? I'm very glad that you have three generations of family sitting down to a nice meal in the dining room every night, with fine linens, nice china, and stemmed glasses. But if my husband and I would prefer to spend a bit of time catching up on months of "The Good Wife" on the DVR, what's it to you?

i think since tv is winning there's no need to feel defensive.

uh, pb, it kinda does not matter what they say, you are a member of the vast majority.

i am alone all day, except for you guys. i am very inquisitive and talkative, so I think that dinnertime watching tv is a good time for my poor hubby to unwind and not have to answer my 3000 questions. lol

I'm not being defensive; I'm being offended, and a little puzzled.

now for my commitment:

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no, no pb, i understand. Maybe they are being defensive because they are very few?

I don't know. It doesn't bother me where or how other people choose to take meals. I'm not sure why anyone would want to make someone else feel bad about their choices.

pb, i think of it like this.... as long as no one steals your dinner tv....and no one forces me to have one.... we're both happy, right? this is the internet, some arent good at choosing their words in a diplomatic way, whether its about politics or how we eat dinner.

pbutler- I read all the same comments and they did not offend me? It is a public forum and people are just expressing their thoughts on how they feel dining should go. We eat in front of the TV (while it is on) , Corelle dishes with paper napkins. I think I broke all the stemmed glasses on the granite long ago. so just sit back and enjoy the varied dining rituals;)

nnigrt- I think I may resemble the last part of your remark;))

pbuteler...you'd be amazed at the comments on "TV in the bedroom...yes or no?" Oh my! It was implied that people that have a tv in the bedroom are pretty much "stupid". A controversial subject apparently! lol

nnigrt, we don't eat TV dinners, we eat a meal in front of the TV. Hopefully you can see the difference.

and see, i would never in a million years eat dinner in front of a tv... but i DO have a tv in the bedroom. who'd a thunk it.

"i would never in a million years eat dinner in front of a tv" See, I just don't understand why this is necessary.

pb, wasnt for a minute thinking of you with a foil swanson turkey dinner on your knees, really.

ok, well, if you are offended by my hyperbole i shall bow out.

It's always great to have dinner with the family when our schedules allow it!

If the weather is nice (here in Florida usually is) we eat on the deck next to our Koi pond. If not there then indoors dining room.

Most times in the dining room or at the kitchen peninsula, almost never in front of the TV, eating out much more lately as I'm really sick of cooking.

that is what i really want, someone to cook for us. now that our diet is so durn clean, we can't eat out anymore. Enjoy eating all the fresh foods, but cooking is more of a chore, no matter what those chefs tell us. maybe give their hands, or instant knowledge how to chop like them, without chopping all my fingers off.

I'm not sure this is the right thread, but while my computer was down, someone asked me about a picture of my bistro table where I eat most of my meals. It took me a while because I had a fiasco with a bottle of red wine! My cousin recovered the chairs for me, and I made the placemats and napkins!

lovely bev

Thanks, havingfun!!

mostly at breakfast nook between kitchen and sunroom where the TV does get left on unless I fuss.
with school and marching band starting there will be more eating on the run....

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside on the balcony or the patio de pending which is the shadiest. And since I live alone, often standing up over the sink.

Children are grown and have their own places. Hubby and I eat at the counter in the kitchen/den. It's all one big room. Makes for an easy clean up too!

Kitchen table, well actually dinette table adjacent to kitchen. In the summer, on the screen porch. For company, in the dining room. If we are feeling very informal or there is a TV event we must watch, on the basement sofa. Kids are grown. When they were younger, tried to do family dinner around a table as much as possible (which becomes very challenging as they grow and are active in multiple activities).

Unless we have family and/or guests over for dinner, I eat in front of my computer in my quilting/sewing room. My hubby eats in front of his laptop down in the bat cave (his section of the family room)!

I eat in the dining room.