the good way

Conversation starters for meal times

Session 6 • Hospitality • Activation

“Ask me not where I live and what I like to eat. Ask me what I am living for and what I think is keeping me from living fully for that.” Thomas Merton

Whether you are eating with your roommates, your community group or your family, the beauty of being together around the table is in enjoying each other’s company as you enjoy the meal. The table should be a sacred place - a place where we enjoy rich conversation and communion with each other. Below are 25 simple conversation starters. Make it your goal this week to have at least one meal shared with friends, neighbors, or family around the table, where phones are banned and the goal is simply to be fully present and to have deep and meaningful conversation.

Conversation Starters

  1. What was the best part of your day?
  2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  3. If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?
  4. If you had one wish (and you can’t wish for more wishes), what would you wish for and why?
  5. What is your biggest fear?
  6. What is one way you helped another person today?
  7. If you could trade places with your parents for a day, what would you do differently?
  8. If you could have one dream come true, what would it be?
  9. Which character in a book best describes you and why?
  10. If you could see your future, where will you be in ten years?
  11. What is your favorite childhood memory?
  12. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
  13. What are the qualities that make you a good friend?
  14. What is the nicest thing a friend has ever done for you?
  15. What is your favorite family tradition?
  16. What is one thing you are grateful for today?
  17. What has been the happiest day of your life so far and why?
  18. What is one thing you could have done better today?
  19. Who is one person in your life you are thankful for and why?
  20. If you could have dinner with anyone (past or present), who would it be and why?
  21. If you could stay up all night, what would you do?
  22. What is the most beautiful place you have ever seen?
  23. What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
  24. What is something you want to learn how to do and why?
  25. If you had the attention of the world for just ten seconds, what would you say?

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