After the unexpected slowness of 2020 and the continued uncertainty of 2021, we’ve all had time to reflect on our lives and what gives us purpose. While busyness and a go-go-go lifestyle were often how a purposeful and intentional life was measured in the past, the last two years has made us realize that what actually makes a purposeful life is genuine human connection, which starts within our own homes. In 2022, let’s continue to foster the relationships that mean the most to us. How do we do this? It begins with the dinner table. With this in mind today, we’re sharing ways to make the dinner table a place of connection with wholesome, healthy recipes and easy conversation starters to help nurture the relationships closest to you.
Begin 2022 Together: Healthy Recipes
After a season of indulgent holiday foods, January is a time to hit the reset button in your home. Choosing wholesome foods and easy recipes is our favorite way to help our family eat nutritious meals that make them feel good, inside and out, without much time spent in the kitchen.
Interestingly, we’ve noticed there’s a misconception that healthy food is either time-consuming to prepare or simply too boring to serve for dinner. We couldn’t disagree more! Healthy food can be quick to whip up while still bringing flavor to the table each night. Here are some of our favorite wholesome recipes that are made to be shared with loved ones!
Healthy Recipes: Salmon Cakes & Mimi’s Cooked Carrots
We originally shared these recipes with our spring tablescape, with both components being easy to prepare while also being nutritious. Serve these Salmon Cakes on a bed of creamy slaw, or make into salmon burgers with hamburger buns from your local grocery store. And while Mimi’s Cooked Carrots have a touch of sweetness, it doesn’t take away from the nutrient-dense star of this recipe: rainbow carrots!
Healthy Recipes: Halfway Homemade Soups
There’s something about a warm bowl of soup made with wholesome ingredients that encourages people to relax a bit. The slowly simmered flavors create a comfort that no other food can truly recreate. However, with everyone back to school and work, soup simmering on the stovetop all day might not be a possibility. That’s why we love these halfway homemade recipes that make serving up a nutritious and comforting bowl of soup quick and easy. Try these crowd-pleasers for go-to soup recipes our own families love: Easy Taco Soup and Garden Vegetable Soup.
Healthy Recipes: Wholesome Salads
Whether it’s the foundation of the meal or playing a supporting role as a side dish, a salad provides a versatile and healthy option when gathering around the table. What we love most about salads is that they are customizable for whatever your family loves. We’ve included our favorites below, from the easiest broccoli side dish to a hearty kale salad made to keep you full and satisfied. Add a protein to any of these salads and you have a complete meal that nutritious and flavorful.
Hearts of Romaine Harvest Salad
Mimi’s Spring Salad with Halfway Homemade Dressing
Begin 2022 Together: Weeknight Dinner Conversation Starts
A Free Printable to Make Dinner Time a Connected Experience
In a world of screens, human interaction is sometimes difficult, even with the people in your own home. This results in quiet dinners or forced conversation that quickly dwindles back into silence. Make it easier to foster meaningful conversation with our simple conversation starters. Enjoy deceptively straightforward questions that’ll spark engagement over a shared meal. Just remember, even if you never make it past the first person’s response because you went off track in the conversation, these starters have done their job!
Sometimes, all a family needs to reconnect is a little nudge in the right direction. (This is your nudge!)
If you happen to use these conversation starters, remember to tag us @thebusybee.co and use the hashtag #hostfulatheart for the chance to be featured on our social channels! We’d love to share how your family connects through these simple questions and finds meaningful moments around the dinner table.
Lastly, friend, we hope this year is full of memorable times around the dinner table. We truly believe that genuine human connection begins at home, so let’s begin this year small yet meaningful. Put down the screens and make authentic connections with our significant others, children, and whoever else you invite around your table.
Hap-Bee New Year!
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