Explore how family-style meals help children build independence, confidence and community with Robin Watts.

In this episode of The Heartfelt Way, Robin Watts, Heartfelt Impressions’ Director of Food Service, joins host Rhonda Meyers for a thoughtful conversation about the power of family-style dining.

Robin reflects on her own childhood memories of screen-free family meals and the pride she felt contributing to holiday traditions. Those early experiences shape her deep belief that mealtime is a cornerstone of community. 

Family-style dining is a space where children learn to listen to their bodies and make choices about food. Trying new foods is essential, Robin says, and helps children to be able to express themselves.

[00:16:13] “If [students] don't like something, we can talk about why they don't like it. . . . Was it too soft? Was it too crunchy? We're giving them the words and understanding to help them.”

Robin addresses common concerns—from spills and picky eating to sensory sensitivities—and explains how teachers approach these moments with patience and trust rather than pressure or shame. 

Robin emphasizes, too, that lessons learned at the table extend far beyond nutrition. Children learn spatial awareness, communication, problem-solving when milk is spilled and community when they help clean up the mess.

[00:32:34] “[Participating in family-style meals] is a quiet part of their development, I think, that goes unrecognized.”

Whether you’re an educator guiding mealtime in the classroom or a parent navigating dinner at home, this episode is a warm reminder that when we slow down and eat together, we’re setting the table for lifelong learning.

Family-Style Meals: Raising Independent & Adventurous Eaters

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