Grace & Gratitude: 3 Easy (Non-Denominational) Ways to Bless Your Next Meal or Gathering

Have you ever had one of those moments as a host where you have a full table of guests in front of you and someone asks you to "say grace" or bless the meal?
Or perhaps, along with our community, you're a staunch believer in the power of gratitude and you want to take the initiative and have a moment to acknowledge your thanks for a beautiful meal and the beauty of gathering around the table?
It can be awkward/difficult when you might have folks from differing religious/spiritual beliefs and denominational backgrounds. Here are three short, simple ways to bless your meal that everyone will appreciate.

A Simple Thank You Will Do

Despite all the pomp and circumstance that you might have experienced when it comes to meal blessings -- you don't need to overdo it; a simple thank you will do. You don't have to bow heads, close eyes, or chant. Simply call everyone's attention for a moment and just say thank you. Here's a prompt on how it might unfold for you:

Acknowledge Those Who Don't Have Enough

One mealtime gratitude ritual that I've always admired is that of the Native Americans. While they indeed have many rituals around food, one consistent theme is that they are always being thankful that they are able to eat, and extending hope to those who might not have enough. To symbolize this, sometimes an extra plate is prepared "in spirit" or food is left on the plate as a way of saying "may this find its way to someone in need."
You can extend this concept to modern times: at your next dinner party or family gathering, let everyone know as you sit down to eat that you've donated a portion of your grocery/food prep to those who are in need of a hot meal. It's a small, simple gesture that reminds us that we're all in this together. Here's a prompt on how it might unfold for you:

It's the Good Life: Enjoy It

The fun part of gratitude is acknowledging and fully enjoying what you have -- appreciating the little things, so to speak. And since that's a very Plum Deluxe thing to say, it's a great place to start a meal. If you have a safe, cozy place to gather and wonderful people to enjoy it with, well, that's a very good thing indeed.

May your next meal be filled with incredible food, yummy wine, and delightful conversation -- with a dusting of gratitude and thanks on top.