Don’t Make Table Dump Dinners a Habit, Say Nutritionists

Children sit around a dinner table completely covered with aluminum foil. First comes the spaghetti, unceremoniously dumped on the foil.

Then, garlic bread is chucked on top, followed by meatballs—one rolls onto the floor—and pasta sauce dribbled onto the pile of pasta, broccoli, and Parmesan cheese. The dad even grates cheese directly into the mom’s mouth to amused and confused children before the family all tucks in.

When they’re done, the mom folds everything up in foil—presumably to throw in the trash—and the table is as good as new, with nothing to wash up, either.

This is one example of table dump dinners, a trend begun on TikTok that has now spread to Instagram. In this tradition, parents dump food directly onto a covered table for children to tuck into and enjoy.

Kaci Driggers, 26, from Florida, previously spoke to Newsweek about her video participating in the trend, saying: “My kids love spaghetti and, of course, making messes, so it was right up their alley.”

However, commenters often seem divided in their responses to these videos, so Newsweek spoke to two nutrition experts to get their opinions on whether table dump dinners were a beneficial family activity.

Catherine Jeans, a nutritional therapist who calls herself The Family Nutrition Expert, said: “I think from the point of view of getting children to try more foods, this could be fun.

“It is really important to make eating a social occasion when you can. Food should bring us joy and pleasure.

“Children are much more likely to engage in something that they see as fun.”

Jeans added that buffet-style eating, such as table dump dinners, where children get to choose what they eat, is often popular among kids because they feel more empowered.

“It’s a way of allowing them to try new things, feeling in control of what they actually choose to eat,” she said. “Being around lots of different foods helps to desensitize us, so over time, we are more likely to try new things.”

Sally Temple, a nutritional therapist and lecturer at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, agreed with Jeans, adding that table dump dinners were “maybe fun as a one-off,” but that was “about the only benefit.”

Both nutrition experts expressed concerns about the amount of foil—or plastic wrap, as is sometimes used—required to cover an entire family table.

“The environmental aspect is a big one. You would have to throw away the foil or [plastic wrap]. In theory, you could wash the foil, but I don’t expect many are washing it down and then recycling,” Temple said.

Jeans added that there was a possibility that aluminum might leach into the food and be eaten.

Aluminum is a heavy metal that is sometimes classed as an antinutrient because it may disrupt the absorption of beneficial nutrients when ingested—and there is some evidence that it might transfer into food when combined with acids, such as lemon juice.

“I have also seen [the trend] using cling film,” said Temple. “This could lead to leaching of toxic chemicals like phthalates, which act as endocrine disruptors and can play havoc with our hormones.”

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic soft. They may transfer into food, especially when that food is hot, and some evidence suggests they may impact hormones.

“I would be especially concerned for this exposure with young children,” said Temple.

Jeans also said table dump dinners likely lead to food waste, mess, and perhaps overeating, as parents had no say over portion sizes.

“I mean…can you imagine the mess?” she said. “More food would be wasted. Likely, more food could end up on the floor.

“And if you’re trying to do a table dump, [you] may not be aware of portion sizes, as there’s nothing to measure it with—like plates. Either more is wasted or too much eaten.”

Like many commenters, Temple expressed concerns about the lack of table manners that table dump dinners encouraged.

“I don’t think many people want to set up a situation where kids feel they can throw their food around and make a big mess—aside from the occasional bit of fun,” she said.

“While table manners aren’t everything, they are important life skills and part of learning to socialize outside of the family.”

Jeans agreed, saying: “I think this is a fun approach for a weekend dinner, but I’m not sure this is something most families will use every day!”

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