In my typical mormon household, we start off a meal with a prayer. How do normal people do it?

I silently thank the animal who probably suffered so I could eat (if the meal has meat). I thank the cook or person who provided the meal.

No need to have God as the middleman. Thank who did the actual work.

1. Open pizza box.
2. Try not to get stringy cheese everywhere while transferring to plate.

I thank the ingredients for their sacrifice (silently), and then I thank the cook (not silently).

I sometimes just say a silent thank you for food to eat.

My stepfather used say an elaborate prayer before meals thanking Heavenly Father, the restored gospel, blah blah blah, and no mention of my mom who cooked it. That always pissed her off.

Now that I'm out of LDS Inc it's so nice just to live without having to say a prayer for every little thing: waking up, going to sleep, before every meal, starting/ending seminary, every church meeting (approx 8 prayers on Sundays with the 3 hour block) meetings following church, before basketball games or any other activity, etc. God must be so bored with all those rote prayers.

It's so nice just to go about my day without thinking I have to constantly say a prayer. Mormons figured out a way to make even praying a means of mind control.

I do still pray, but not that frequently.

I thank the cook and spread my napkin on my lap.

The same way they finish it...

With GUSTO

I thank the food provider



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2020 03:47PM by Dave the Atheist.

Dave the Atheist Wrote:
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> I thank the food provider


God?

Good

The food provider is me.

GoDave

Two favs in my family were:
Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub yeah God

Or

Good food and meat, good God let’s eat.

I cross myself and touch my pee-pee.




Oh, come on! Of course not!!

My main concern when I begin a meal at home is that I have enough salsa and lemon-lime fizzy water, along with napkins and kleenex. I HATE starting to eat and then having to get up to get something I've forgotten.

Sometimes I'll look across at Saucie and thank her for not wrapping me up in the bottom sheet and hog-tying and then beating me, the previous night. Lemme tell ya, that makes for a tough night and I'm usually a mite peckish the next morning; puts me right off my grub...


At restaurants (from what I can remember way back in February) I thank the server and dig right in.

Just remember that cilantro is evil.

elderolddog Wrote:
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> I cross myself and touch my pee-pee.
>
>
>
>
> Oh, come on! Of course not!!
>
> My main concern when I begin a meal at home is
> that I have enough salsa and lemon-lime fizzy
> water, along with napkins and kleenex. I HATE
> starting to eat and then having to get up to get
> something I've forgotten.
>
> Sometimes I'll look across at Saucie and thank her
> for not wrapping me up in the bottom sheet and
> hog-tying and then beating me, the previous night.
> Lemme tell ya, that makes for a tough night and
> I'm usually a mite peckish the next morning; puts
> me right off my grub...
>
>
> At restaurants (from what I can remember way back
> in February) I thank the server and dig right in.

Old dog is so much fun to eat with, and other things.

By sitting down.

Similarly, I start bedtime by lying down.

No ceremonies necessary.

Hasa diga ebowai!

I compliment the cook(s) by saying something like, "This looks great!" Then once I have eaten a bit, I compliment the meal. I have some professional chefs and serious foodies in my family, so complimenting the meal is never a problem.

When my mom was still alive, she would want one of us to say grace at holiday time. So my brother and I came up with the following -- "We are thankful for abundant food, good health, and the company of our loved ones." Then whoever wished to would say, "Amen" and we would dig in.

Pour beer...pick up fork...eat. Zero praying.

Very carefully!

One bite before the other... just like everyone else.

I sit down to eat dinner and it feels like I should wait for him to say the blessing on the food. And then I realize that we don't do that. If I mention it, he'll start some Jewish prayer.

I usually thank him after dinner for dinner. He likes to be the best cook, so I don't cook very often AT ALL.

No blessing on the food.

The proper way to do it is wait until the host or head of the table begins eating. Digging in, or even touching the silverware, before everyone has been served is very impolite. However, if the server is taking a very long time bringing the food and it might get cold before everyone is served, the host should invite the guests to go ahead and begin eating as soon as they are served.

We were not allowed to start eating in our home until our mother had been seated after she served the rest of our family. The only exception was at breakfast when Mom wanted us to eat while she served the others so we would not be late for school.

How many families even eat together these days? We were old school during my childhood. Not many families ate as formally as we did.

Since our elementary school was only a few blocks from our home, I ate breakfast, lunch, supper at home until I was a teenager. Mom was a GREAT cook!!!!

We only said prayers at Christmas dinner and Thanksgiving dinner. And my dad did the honors. He had a prayer he learned in military school. He said it so fast, it was years before I could figure out what he was saying.

Pooped Wrote:
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> The proper way to do it is wait until the host or
> head of the table begins eating...

It's all much simpler living alone. :)

by picking up a fork and knife?

We just serve ourselves and start eating. Sometimes we get it from the kitchen if it's set up buffet style, or from the center of the table if the food has been moved to serving dishes.

Yeah, the Mormon males sit down to eat. I, as a Mormon female, would start by cooking the meal, scurrying back and forth, serving everyone, re-heating the food for late-arrivers, heaping seconds onto everyone's plate. Like the mother in "A Christmas Story", I didn't have a hot meal to myself for 15 years.

Now in isolation, I make a smaller dinner, eat in front of the TV, and lock out the cat and dog for the duration. No prayers, but I always marvel at the miracle of a fresh apple or orange. They grow on trees! I'm still alive!

Mother Who Knows Wrote:
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> ...scurrying back and forth, serving everyone,
> re-heating the food for late-arrivers, heaping
> seconds onto everyone's plate...

My condolences.

My mother would cook the meal (with the help of those old enough) and one of us kids would set the table and put out the food. If you were late, you got cold food, if any was left. So we learned not to be late. Then we helped clean up and do the dishes. Of course, Dad's only part in it all was to eat and preside and pontificate.

Thank you 6pound 7oz baby Buddha!

Pick up the tableware and have at it.

Only good reason for a blessing is the opportunity to grab your favorite piece of fried chicken while everyone has their eyes closed. Very important in a big family. My cousins did that until their Dad noticed the platter was empty by the time he said innanamajesuschristamen.

If someone else prepared my food I think them :-) then I open up my mouth and chew with my mouth closed :-) sometimes the Prairie. Sometimes I don’t. I feel thankful and enjoy my meal :-)

I think it’s really great to hear so many people on this thread apparently have a conscience.
But let’s make it clear. None of the animals (or their products)that end up on American dinner plates are the result of a willing sacrifice. So it’s kind of preposterous to thank them.

That's a good point, CateS.

How do exmos put on their pants ?

Hah! As if Dave wore pants!

By washing my hands.

BY being hungry.

My brother's friend used to come over, and when he'd say grace, he'd ask god to make sure the food didn't kill us.

*That* is a reasonable prayer.