I recently learned that in Japan, it's common to say "Itadakimasu," which means "I humbly receive." We're atheists, but I love the idea of teaching our children gratitude by giving thanks before meals.

I personally like the very traditional, "For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful." But my husband vetoed it.

We're leaning toward this:

For the food before us,
For the friends beside us,
For the love that surrounds us,
We are truly grateful.

There's also this Buddhist meal gatha that is quite nice:

We receive this food in gratitude to all beings
Who have helped to bring it to our table,
And vow to respond in turn to those in need
With wisdom and compassion.

Alternatively, it might be neat to say different things as the seasons turn. For example, the invocation for spring might be an excerpt from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Work Without Hope":

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair--
The bees are stirring--birds are on the wing--
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!

But that would require rotating at least four different passages throughout the year, which might be a bit much for young kids.

Do any of you say a secular blessing at meal times?