Hey, fearless foodies! Ever feel stuck in the weeknight doldrums, with dinner as thrilling as watching paint dry? Well, you’re in luck because we've got the lowdown on spicing up those dull evenings. Get ready to transform your family dinners from blah to ta-da with a few easy ideas.

1.    Pizza Picasso Party: Tired of the same old pizza routine? Time to become pizza artists. Whether you're into classic combos or feeling adventurous, the DIY pizza night is a surefire way to spark creativity. Stick to the standards or let the family loose with weird toppings like onion rings, tater tots, fruit, sriracha sauce, pickles, eggs, pesto, potatoes, avocado, or arugula. It's pizza night, revamped and ready for action. Want more pizza ideas? See links under this article.

2.    Thematic Feast Fête: Say goodbye to bland dinners and hello to movie theme nights. Take your taste buds on a journey with Mexican or Italian nights, or explore your favorite season's flavors. Amp up the fun with matching tunes, order some takeout (or get your chef hat on), and cap off the evening with a themed movie. Here are some tasty combos of food and movies swiped from my family and friends.

• Indian food and The Hundred-Foot Journey (this one is my favorite; I’m getting hungry thinking of Veggie Korma right now, and it’s 9 in the morning!)

• Cubanos, molten lava cake, and Chef. “It’s MOLTEN!!!”

• Mexican food and The Three Amigos “Let’s ride!”

• Steak, tator tots, and Napoleon Dynamite “Tina, eat. Food. Eat the FOOD!”

• Italian and The Godfather "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

3.    Unexpected Dinner Guests: Break the routine by adding a dash of surprise to your dinner table. Who needs the same ol' faces when you can invite a neighbor, a long-lost cousin, or your kid's partner in crime? Extend the dinner invitation to someone who usually dines solo and watch the sparks fly. The more, the merrier! Looking for a fun and unique game to play with company? Ever played Sardines?

4.    Post-Dinner Art Attack: The feast doesn't have to end when the plates are cleared. Dive into some post-dinner creativity with drawing, coloring, or painting together. Psst, we've got an exciting game in the works that’s perfect for this — Make Your Own Memory Game! Add to it each night after dinner for a fun, easy way to reconnect and make memories!

You can also check out our free printables and other downloads in our Shop. It's art and soul, baby!

5.    Dining Outside the Box: Remember the joy of indoor picnics? Relive those moments by switching up your dinner locale. Lay out a blanket on the floor of a different room and have a picnic, switch to a table in a different room, get outdoors, or venture to a nearby park. A simple change of scenery can turn an ordinary dinner into an extraordinary memory.

Break free from the weeknight routine and turn dinner into a sensational experience. Whether tossing in unexpected toppings or inviting the whole neighborhood to the table, keep shaking things up. Get ready to savor the flavor of a life less ordinary!

Stay unchained — Janet

References and more ideas:

https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/4week-program/support/tips-for-making-dinnertime-special/

https://jessicalevinson.com/how-to-keep-family-dinner-fun/

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/deliciously-weird-pizzas/

https://www.onecrazyhouse.com/pizza-topping-ideas/

https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/film/dinner-and-a-movie-ideas-for-a-great-night-in