An Interview with Activist and Author, Laurie David

When it comes to cooking for my family, I have to admit, my culinary prowess is completely hit or miss (I'm great with chicken, terrible with fish and the sides are a total crap shoot).  As a result, my lack of talent in the kitchen has created an environment where we typically eat a home cooked meal together on Sundays and the rest of the week, we're either on our own or restaurant bound.  After speaking with Laurie David, environmental activist and author of the new book "The Family Dinner," I've decided it's time I gather the troops and bring them back into the kitchen to not only enjoy a meal together, but partake in some great conversation.

During our chat, Laurie shared stories of how family dinner played an integral role in her childhood and how she carried on that tradition when she became a mom.  She says that family dinner is not just about the food - it's about the stories, the rituals and the traditions you may share with one another that will inevitably leave you with lasting memories. In fact, her daughters are now 14 and 16 and Laurie says they frequently talk about a range of important topics during family dinner.  Over the years, family dinner has become even more important to Laurie especially since her divorce from television producer, writer and actor Larry David.  

During that first year, Laurie says she made it a point to invite friends over for dinner with her and her daughters and now, Larry joins them for Sunday night Chinese food.  You can even read Laurie's chapter on family dinner and divorce in the book and how she's managed to keep this important ritual intact even though the family dynamic has changed.   In fact, Laurie adds that dinner doesn't necessarily have to be at the dinner table - for take out Chinese night, they gather in the living room and eat around the coffee table - now that's my kind of family!

In addition to anecdotes about her kids, Larry, her mom, her friends and her grandma Minnie, Laurie shares mouth watering recipes from Kirstin Uhrenholdt, a talented cook who has been a part of their family for several years.  Plus, there are great conversation starters and games you can play around the dinner table and incredible photos of kids (check out the shot of Laurie's nephew Logan in the pizza chapter) and adults enjoying great food together.

If you'd like to hear more from our interview, then listen in and enjoy.  And if you have a story to share about your family's dinner ritual, we'd love to hear it!  To find out more about The Family Dinner, visit Laurie's website, The Family Dinner Book.