39 Toys and Products That Seriously Improve Your Family Dinner Time

With growing kids it can be difficult to make family dinner the occasion it should be in terms of healthy food, conversation and child engagement. This list of dinner items all encourage a more interactive mind-set to the dinning experience be it in preparation, fun items to eat with, or conversation pieces to talk about.

products for better family dinner

Construction Plate & Utensils

Engage your young child into meal times by making every family dinner an opportunity to take part in construction with this fun, award winning plate and set of equipment inspired utensils. Lightweight yet rugged, these pieces feature textured, easy to grip handles and are sure to get your little builder hungry for dinner time.

Price varies

Instant Pot

This groovy pot has 7 uses in 1 including as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yoghurt maker, sauté, warmer and as a steamer. It includes a 3 ply bottom stainless steel cooking pot, a stainless steel steam rack with handle, and a recipe book in English and French.

$99.00

Sun Basket Meal Delivery Service

Ease your way into healthy eating with this great service from Sunbasket. They supply you every week with organic produce, clean ingredients, and groovy recipes to bring together great tasting meals that are good for you too. A weekly delivery meeting your cooking needs straight to your door.

Price varies

Parlor Ice Cream Mixing Set

To enjoy ice cream properly, you need to have the right plate. This terrific marble slab has 2 mixing spades and 3 ceramic dishes, all nestled on a sleek bamboo base which lets you surround yourself with toppings. The marble slab is freezable to allow you to enjoy your ice cream in peace.

$69.95

Berry Buddy

There’s nothing like freshly picked berries to add a taste of summer or autumn to your table, but they need to be cleaned to be enjoyed fully. This stoneware strainer is an all in one design that offers an essential drip catcher and a spout for easy clean up.

$46.00

Chalkboard Table Runner Set

Sometimes we have to wait at the table for our dinner or for others to finish their meals. Take away the boredom that can ensue for kids and young at heart adults with these chalkboard inspired table runners, complete with dustless chalk to enable boredom destroying doodling.

Price varies

Mr. Food Face Plate

These food safe ceramic plates feature a design inspired by the beloved Wooly Willy children’s toy and encourage children to get creative at mealtime. Engage them in the dining process by letting them play a little with their food on the plate in a way that will keep them coming back for more.

$12.00

The Mug with a Hoop

Sometimes we need to play with our food, and with this fun bowl you can line up a 3 point shot and win at breakfast time basketball. Designed by an 8 year old, this bowl layout really understands how kids feel and what will keep them focused at meal times.

$24.00

Homemade Tortilla Kit

Like so many things today, store bought tortillas cannot compare to those made in your own kitchen. Now you can prepare them with ease with this authentic cast iron tortilla press, or “tortilladora”. Providing even pressure, it will bring a real touch of Mexico to your meals.

$48.00

Soup & Sandwich Ceramic Tray Duo

There’s nothing so simple and yet so in unity as a soup and sandwich combo, but do you have the crockery to go with it? This soup bowl and sandwich tray duo eliminates the awkward balancing act of having two very separate food entities, and makes them a smart pair on your lap.

$30.00

Party Sprinkles

Sprinkles are a delightful item to drop over your favorite cupcakes or ice cream but so often they are stored in dull plastic tubs or opaque containers. This superb container which is handmade in Georgia is ideal for mixing or storing your sprinkles and has a spoon for easy dosing.

$22.95

Star Wars Silicone Ice Cube Molds

May the force be with you with these colorful molds for making Star Wars ice cubes which will delight kids as they see them in their drinks. They are freezer and oven safe so that the molds can also be used for candies, chocolates or even soap, such is their versatility.

Prices Vary

Dog Egg Mold

In order to get kids more into family dinner, use this fun dog mold to produce a happy animal face when you next cook eggs. Children will love the face produced and this mold is made from silicone so that your precious frying pan doesn’t get scratched.

$9.99

Dinosaur Taco Holders

Tacos are a family favorite but now they will be even more exciting as they arrive on the back of dinosaurs. Durable and dish washer safe, the triceratops dinosaur will hold two hard shell tacos until your kids can make them extinct. A fun way to enjoy family dining.

$12.00

Garden Plate & Utensils

Encourage your kids to eat their greens with this fun dish that will make eating a joyful experience rather than a chore to be endured. Complete with utensils sporting textured handles, this plate has separate plots for different food items as well as specialized zones for scooping and pushing.

Price varies

Milton the Mealtime Companion

For the picky eater in your family, this fun silicone made children’s friend Milton is a buddy that can help them to try and taste new foods. Complete with a story book, Milton is endorsed by a speech pathologist and a pediatric feeing specialist. Useful for teaching oral hygiene too.

$29.95

The Mug with a Glove

It’s time to step up to the plate and play ball with this mug that can collect your marshmallows wherever you pitch them from. This oversized cup is shaped like half a baseball and sports a mini-glove which is sure to be a hit with kids.

$24.00

The Soccer Mug with a Goal

Add fun to their cocoa with this great football based cup that also has a net on its rim. Functional yet fun, kids will adore this half ball cup and will be desperate to launch marshmallows or corn pops into the net. A fun design leading to a fun dining experience.

$24.00

Choo Choo Train Dining Set

All aboard for dinner time with this fun dining set that also resembles a train. Children are encouraged to enjoy the food experience as they get to play with these bowls resembling trains. Perfect for picky eaters to take their minds off the food they refuse to like.

$20.00

Bamboo Suction Baby Bowl Set

One of the annoying things that happens when a young child is learning to eat from a bowl or plate is that the vessel will slip and then spill its contents or frustrate the young child. This silicone suction cup will hold bowls in place and allow your child a fair chance.

$20.00

Hot Dog Cutter

Make slicing up of sausages an easy choice with this fast and easy to use vegetable and sausage cutter device that will cut out time spent in preparation in the kitchen. Kids will love how easy this device is to operate and will want to participate in family dinner once again.

Prices Vary

Corn on the Cob Grilling Baskets

With a drop of melting butter, there is nothing better than a barbequed piece of corn cob to get an outdoor meal going. However, they can be tricky to handle, which is why this stainless steel basket comes to the rescue and holds your cobs together over the grill for an even cook.

$14.99

Fruit Infusing Ice Balls

Give your drinks a burst of refreshing berries, maybe bourbon, or even a splash of lemon with these fun ice mold spheres. Once filled and then frozen, these spheres produce rounded ice cubes that will initiate a blast of whatever flavor you have frozen, into your drink.

$10.00

Play Your Way Ice Cream Maker

Kids will adore this fun way to make ice cream that involves playing around with a ball before opening it and enjoying the delicious contents inside. Using the simple recipes in the included booklet, you’ll make great ice cream and in the strangest places, like on the beach!

$50.00

Egg Cooker

Alleviate clutter and use this great egg cooker that has a capacity of 14 eggs, enough for your whole family to get their daily dose of nature’s finest product. Eggs are packed with goodness and now can be easily cooked in this nifty device that can also be used as a steamer for vegetables.

Prices Vary

Stoneware TV Dinner Trays

Kids love a TV dinner, gathered around the television watching their favorite shows. However you can now serve up a healthier treat in the same form with this set of 2 stoneware trays that have segmented zones for your food, a fashion that is sure to please any picky eaters.

$24.00

Simply Slice Strawberry Slicer

When decorating cakes with fresh fruit it can be difficult to produce a cut that is clean and stylish. Fear not for your strawberries as this slicer has 7 blades, allowing you to hull strawberries or other fruit and vegetables in seconds and also to produce classy slices to adorn your baking.

Prices Vary

Pizza Grow Kit

This fun pack is a great idea to get kids involved with their food by growing the ingredients to top a pizza. Including seeds for basil, tomatoes, green bell peppers, oregano, parsley and scallions, this pack also has plant stakes and growing instructions for the less green fingered amongst us.

$12.00

Veggie Skewers

Vegetables are notorious on barbeques for dropping through the grill into the ashes. Solve this problem by using these double spike designed skewers which hold items securely and allow you to flip larger items with ease. Suitable for items ranging in size from potato cubes to grape tomatoes and mushrooms.

$16.00

Krierah Dinosaur Soup Ladle

This fun soup ladle is free standing and 100% nylon, making it non-toxic and food safe. Something that will tickle the fancy of any child, this ladle is also dishwasher safe and will not stain. An innovative idea to help picky eaters get involved with their food.

Prices Vary

Oven-to-Table Entertaining Platter

Keeping food at the right temperature as you serve your family dinner can be difficult but now you can copy the restaurants and serve up on a soapstone platter. Capable of acting as a hot or cold plate by placement in the freezer or oven, the wooden caddy helps protect the server from burns.

$64.95

Berry Colander

This cute colander is the perfect vessel for strawberries or soft fruits and is a fully functioning piece of kitchen equipment. Perfect for rinsing and serving your favorite berries, the colander is glazed and fired from stoneware clay and molded using items found around any household such as a power drill.

$50.00

Italian Cheesemaking Kit

Food is always tastier when you have created it from scratch and with this kit, cheese can be no exception to this rule. Packed with tools and ingredients to make 10 delectable Italian cheeses, milk is the only extra requirement for this kit that uses a real cheese making culture and 100% vegetarian rennet.

$24.95

Egg on a Bagel Maker

When you are on the move there’s no need to grab something unhealthy when you can simply reach for this bagel shaped, egg cooking, ceramic dish. By the quick addition of some whisked eggs into this dish and a short turn in the microwave, you’ll have eggs ready to sit on your bagel.

$25.00

Elwood the Rainbow Unicorn Mug

It’s always best when you can have your hot drink in your favorite mug, and this one will no doubt become your new star. Styled with rainbow colors and in the shape of a unicorn, this mug will be a winner with kids and holds plenty of fluid for a large hot chocolate.

$40.00

Corer Slicer Peeler and Divider

This funky peeler and corer comes in the shape of a tomato and will replace unnecessary tools in your kitchen. Fun to use and easy to clean and store, the slicer will cut 20 perfect slices that would cost you a small fortune to purchase, in that form, in a store.

Prices Vary

Fridge Beverage Dispenser

This delightful fridge based liquid dispenser is designed to maximize your refrigerator space by means of its unique rectangular shape and top placed tap. With a separate, more generous access for filling the vessel, it’s the perfect item to keep your homemade drinks cool this summer.

$40.00

Taco Serving Kit and Storage Box

Tacos are a popular meal for most of the populace but how many put together their own version? Now you can with help from this set of 6 glass bowls and 4 taco holders, which combined make the perfect setting for this most Mexican of dishes. Comes with a pine and birch storage box.

$85.00

Press and Measure Herb Infuser

Salads come alive with a dressing and now you can infuse your own with this special glass bottle. With a button feature to measure out just the right amount of dressing, the bottle lets you mix your favorite olive oils with fresh garden herbs in a safe and clean fashion.

$13.00

5 Diy Ideas for a Fun Family Dinner

Diy Dinner Conversation Starters

Conversation at the family dinner table can sometimes be stilted or awkward due to a lack of conversation or initial topic to proceed on. This blog gives some handy conversation starters to get everyone relaxed and thinking along the same lines. Provocative and inspirational ideas to get the party started.

Diy Beauty and the Beast Family Dinner Night

Sometimes making a theme around a dinner night can be the start of something special as another random meal becomes a fun occasion for all. This blog gives some ideas about having a dinner party based around the theme of Beauty and the Beast, including table decoration.

Diy Charlottes Web Dinner

Kids will love getting together for a meal based around a favorite book of theirs and regarding a story that they know so well. This blog gives ideas around such a theme, in this case being the tale of Charlotte’s Web, the inspirational story of the pig and the spider.

Diy Family Dinner Printables

Keep the conversation going at dinner with this blog that gives ideas for questions to pose to the family while you eat. With ideas about format and printing the items into attractive pieces, you’ll be inspired to drive the talk at your table to a higher level.

Diy Olympic Themed Games and Food

Kids love a theme around their food and this blog is packed with ideas around the winter Olympics that will inspire you to get creative. Featuring clear instructions and helpful photographs to visualize recipes and games, this blog is sure to get your kids excited about the forthcoming event.