When table manners were practically a parenting religion.
Nobody squirmed in their seat waiting for a phone to buzz or mindlessly scrolled under the table. In the ’70s, dinner was sacred—an institution of expectations, values, and hilarious eye-rolls from kids forced to ask permission to leave the table. These rules weren’t arbitrary either; they created structure, fostered respect, and gave families a reason to slow down and genuinely connect over mashed potatoes and meatloaf.
Today’s fast-food culture has made the home dinner table nearly obsolete. But there’s a rich world of customs from decades past that could bring back warmth, laughter, and discipline to the modern mealtime. From napkin etiquette to chewing in silence, these rules shaped generations. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s a call to reclaim something that grounded families, defined manners, and created memories that still trigger belly laughs at reunions. These 112 rules deserve a second serving.
1. Everyone waits until Mom sits before starting.
No one dared dig in while Mom was still juggling hot dishes and finishing touches. The rule was clear: the meal didn’t officially start until she sat down. It wasn’t about some outdated reverence—it was about gratitude. She worked hard to get dinner on the table, and everyone recognized that by waiting. It taught kids to pause and acknowledge effort, rather than act entitled to service. Today’s rushed dinners and disconnected routines could use that gentle form of respect baked right in.
This unspoken rule wasn’t just about formality—it created a moment of shared stillness before the frenzy of forks began, as mentioned by Family Circle Magazine. It was a cue to stop, notice each other, and value the act of sitting together. In today’s screen-dominated households, simply waiting for Mom could become a surprisingly meaningful form of mindfulness.
2. No elbows on the table—ever.
Back in the ’70s, putting elbows on the table was seen as the ultimate sign of sloppiness. It wasn’t just about posture—it reflected laziness, entitlement, and poor social awareness. Families believed that the dinner table was a place to practice manners, not sprawl out like a couch. It may sound stiff today, but that rule kept kids alert, engaged, and at least semi-presentable if a guest showed up unexpectedly.
This rule came from centuries of Western dining tradition, as reported by Reader’s Digest. But for boomer parents, it was also about discipline. Sitting upright encouraged conversation, eye contact, and—ironically—relaxation through self-control. In an age where meals are often scarfed down in a car or in front of a screen, a no-elbows policy might be the small nudge toward reclaiming a bit of dignity at dinnertime.
3. Phones, TVs, and radios stayed off.
Once dinner began, the television clicked off and the radio went silent. It wasn’t negotiable. Distractions weren’t just frowned upon—they were forbidden. Families understood that dinnertime was prime time for actual connection. Conversations wandered through school gossip, workplace complaints, and what Uncle Joe did at the lake. This unplugged atmosphere helped build stronger bonds, even if it also caused the occasional teenage groan.
82% of families made dinnertime a tech-free ritual, as stated by The American Home. In contrast, today’s meals are often spent multitasking, barely noticing who’s present. The ’70s standard gave kids an uninterrupted opportunity to learn how to listen, respond, and share their day. It was a mini-social bootcamp every evening. Reinstating this rule wouldn’t just reduce screen time—it could resurrect the simple joy of knowing what’s going on in each other’s lives.
4. You had to ask to be excused from the table.
Nobody just stood up and left the table when they were done. It didn’t matter if the plate was clean or the green beans were tortured into submission—kids had to ask permission to be excused. This wasn’t about control; it was about courtesy. It showed kids that their presence at the table mattered and that leaving early disrupted the shared experience.
It also reinforced patience. Children had to wait for others to finish and be part of the family moment, not just consume and disappear. The rule built subtle but powerful habits—thinking of others, acknowledging social norms, and checking in with authority. It’s a gentle way to teach humility, one quiet “May I be excused?” at a time. Today’s fast-paced family routines could benefit from reinstating this simple check-in of shared respect.
5. You tried a little bit of everything.
Parents didn’t cater to picky eaters back then. If liver and onions showed up on a plate, a tiny taste was mandatory. The rule wasn’t about forcing kids to love every dish—it was about cultivating openness and politeness. Turning up a nose or refusing a food outright was seen as rude, not “asserting a preference.” Sampling what was served built a tolerance for differences and a habit of not rejecting something without giving it a fair shot.
This expectation taught adaptability. Even if kids hated Brussels sprouts, they learned to try and then say, “No thank you” without drama. It also saved parents from becoming short-order cooks for a household of whims. In today’s age of ultra-customized meals, this rule would be a sanity-saver and a lesson in gratitude. Trying new things—even reluctantly—was part of growing up and learning the world didn’t revolve around one person’s tastes.
6. No one touched their utensils before grace or thanks.
Before anyone reached for a fork or knife, a moment of pause was expected. Some families said a prayer; others simply said thank you. But silence or appreciation always came first. It wasn’t necessarily religious—it was ritual. This rule added intention to the meal. The act of giving thanks grounded the moment and made the meal feel like more than just refueling.
In an era when meals are often rushed or eaten while multitasking, taking a moment before eating can restore a sense of presence. It shifts the tone from transactional to communal. Saying grace—or even just a simple “Thanks, this looks great”—brings everyone into the same rhythm, even if the day’s been chaotic. It’s a subtle reminder to recognize not just the food, but the people who made it possible.
7. Seconds weren’t taken until everyone had firsts.
It was common courtesy: wait until everyone has had a serving before diving back in for more. In homes where food was often prepared with care and budgets were tight, this rule helped ensure fairness and generosity. Grabbing seconds before others had been served was seen as greedy. It taught children to pay attention to others’ needs and resist immediate gratification.
This tradition curbed selfishness in a quiet but effective way. Kids had to learn patience and awareness—skills that didn’t come naturally but were reinforced daily. It also prevented awkward moments where someone was left with slim pickings because others overindulged. In today’s world of abundance and buffet lines, this rule might seem old-fashioned. But its core message—consider others before yourself—is one that never goes out of style.
8. Compliments to the cook were expected.
It didn’t matter if the roast was a little dry or the rolls were store-bought—someone needed to say thank you. In fact, compliments were often prompted with an expectant look from Mom or Dad. It wasn’t about fishing for praise; it was about recognizing labor. The dinner table was one of the few places where acknowledgment for behind-the-scenes work got vocalized.
This small rule fostered a spirit of gratitude. Kids learned that food didn’t magically appear. Someone planned it, cooked it, and cleaned up afterward. Complimenting the cook trained families to notice effort and express appreciation out loud. Today’s ultra-busy households might forget how powerful that small act can be. A simple “This is really good” could boost morale and reinforce the shared experience of eating together.
9. Napkins stayed in laps, not on plates or the floor.
Cloth napkins weren’t just for special occasions—they were daily staples. And they had rules. They went on laps as soon as everyone sat down, not tucked into collars or left on the table like forgotten props. Wiping your mouth with a sleeve or tossing a balled-up napkin on the plate was considered poor manners, even in casual homes.
This habit subtly taught cleanliness and awareness. It wasn’t about being fancy—it was about presenting oneself with respect. The napkin rule was a constant, low-effort reminder that eating involved a bit of decorum. In a time when meals are often eaten with hands or in the car, bringing back napkin manners could elevate everyday dinners. It’s a quiet ritual that can make even leftovers feel like an event worth treating well.
10. You didn’t slurp, chomp, or chew with your mouth open.
If a kid chewed like a cow or slurped soup loud enough to be heard across the room, someone was bound to get “the look”—that withering parental glare of ‘fix it, now.’ No one wanted to be the person called out for smacking lips or chomping like a horse. The ’70s household dinner table was where auditory offenses were trained out of you, one subtle nudge or not-so-subtle correction at a time.
The rule wasn’t about being uptight. It was about self-awareness and the ability to read a room. Teaching children to minimize disruptive eating noises instilled a deeper message: consider how your actions affect others. In a culture increasingly tolerant of messy, on-the-go eating, reintroducing some basic mouth-closed etiquette wouldn’t just restore a little polish—it might bring back a dash of shared peace at mealtime.
11. You didn’t talk with food in your mouth.
Mid-sentence with mashed potatoes tumbling out? Immediate foul. In the ’70s, speaking with food in your mouth was a fast-track ticket to an embarrassed silence or a scolding. It wasn’t about being prim and proper—it was about showing a little self-restraint and having some respect for the people sitting around you. No one wanted to see what you were chewing while you explained your science project.
It taught timing, too. Kids had to wait, chew, swallow, then speak. It created pauses in conversation that actually made meals less chaotic and more thoughtful. The rhythm of eat-then-talk created more listening and less interrupting. Today, with rushed meals and constant interruptions, this rule could help reestablish boundaries that promote respectful exchanges. The table didn’t need to be a lecture hall—but it wasn’t a cafeteria free-for-all either.
12. Salt and pepper weren’t touched until after tasting.
Reaching for the salt shaker before the first bite was considered rude—almost like insulting the cook before even giving the dish a chance. This rule reminded everyone to try the food first and make a fair judgment. It wasn’t about ego—it was about acknowledgment. Someone had carefully seasoned that dish, and ignoring it in favor of automatic habits was disrespectful.
It also subtly taught mindfulness. Slowing down and tasting before altering became a metaphor for many other aspects of life: observe before reacting, consider before assuming. Kids picked up on that—even if it took a few reminders. In an era where customization is expected instantly, this simple act of tasting first encourages appreciation. And more often than not, the food didn’t need any extra salt anyway. The habit just reinforced slowing down long enough to really notice what was already there.