How the Blue Bloods Cast Pretended to Eat While Filming Reagan Family Dinners: ‘We All Have Tricks’

The Reagan family dinners on Blue Bloods have become iconic throughout the show’s run. These dinner scenes, where the entire Reagan family gathers around the table for a meal, represent the heart of the show—a rare moment where the characters, despite their busy, often dangerous jobs, connect as a family. As viewers see the characters eating, laughing, and debating around the dinner table, one question often arises: How do the cast members pretend to eat so convincingly while filming?

Filming dinner scenes on television is an art that involves a combination of practical tricks and techniques, as the actors don’t typically consume all the food they appear to be eating. On Blue Bloods, where the Reagan family’s dinner scenes are a regular feature, this is no exception. While it may seem like the cast is enjoying a lovely meal, there are a number of methods they use to fake eating while still making it look realistic. And, as it turns out, the actors themselves have become quite skilled at pulling off these “eating” performances.

Filming dinner scenes comes with a set of unique challenges. First and foremost, there’s the issue of timing. Television productions have tight schedules, and what may seem like a simple, 3-5 minute scene of people enjoying a meal could take hours to film. This is especially true for Blue Bloods, where multiple actors are involved in the family dinner scenes, and each takes time to film multiple angles, close-ups, and group shots.

If actors were truly eating the food in each take, they’d quickly find themselves full, uncomfortable, or even unwell—especially if the scene is filmed over several hours or days. There’s also the potential for continuity issues. Food that looks full and appetizing in one take might look half-eaten or spoiled in the next, which would be noticeable to the audience. Thus, the crew has come up with clever ways to make sure the family dinners look authentic while allowing the actors to avoid consuming food repeated

To make the Reagan family meals appear as natural as possible, the Blue Bloods cast has learned a number of tricks to “pretend” to eat convincingly. These techniques not only allow them to fake eating, but they also help maintain the continuity of the scene

For starters, the food shown on screen isn’t always the kind of meal you’d expect at a typical dinner table. The production team often uses food substitutes or props that look realistic under the camera lights but are easier to handle than real food. For example, mashed potatoes might be made from mashed cauliflower to create the appearance of a hearty dish without the need for reheating or worrying about spoilage. Gravy might be thickened water, and steaks could be made from wax or other materials that replicate the look and texture of cooked meat.

In addition, some foods are designed to look good on camera but are not intended to be consumed. The food might be specially prepared to stay in a particular shape or texture for the duration of the filming, and the actors are given tricks for how to handle it. Some of these props are even edible but have been altered to make them more manageable for filming.

One of the most commonly used techniques for pretending to eat in dinner scenes is the “fake bite.” The actors will take a small piece of food into their mouth, but rather than chewing or swallowing, they’ll carefully hide the food inside their mouth. This allows them to continue delivering lines without actually consuming the food.

Tom Selleck, who plays Frank Reagan on the show, and other cast members have revealed that they’ve mastered this technique over the years. The trick lies in timing and placement—the actor will bring the food to their mouth at a certain angle, allowing them to speak without the food visibly moving around. This technique helps them avoid choking on a bite mid-scene and ensures that they don’t have to keep eating after each t

Another trick used by the Blue Bloods cast is to cut food or move it around on the plate to create the illusion of eating without actually taking bites. A lot of the time, you’ll see the actors fork or spoon food onto their plate or swirl it around, but they won’t actually be eating it. Instead, they’ll focus on their dialogue or interactions while keeping the food in constant motion.

In scenes where the actors are eating at a slower pace, they might take small bites and then place the food back on the plate, or they could “push” it around in an effort to avoid eating more. This method also ensures that the plate looks as though it’s been interacted with without the actor needing to consume large portions.

For some scenes, especially when food that is difficult to fake (such as hot liquids or overly chewy food) is involved, the cast might hold the food in their mouth and then discreetly spit it out when the camera cuts. This allows them to create the illusion of eating without having to actually ingest the food.

This technique is especially helpful when dealing with foods that would be difficult to consume quickly without making the actors uncomfortable, such as tough meats or foods that are hard to chew on repeat. The food is carefully held in the actor’s mouth, and then, when the scene is over, it’s either discreetly swallowed or spat out.

Filming a dinner scene involves a lot of repetition, with different angles and reactions needed for each line of dialogue. As a result, the actors are given breaks to clean their mouths or remove any food that they might have “eaten.” Multiple takes ensure that each actor has a chance to “eat” and “speak” while the others are doing the same.

The food is often replaced between takes to ensure continuity. For example, if a dish starts looking a bit off-camera (or too picked over), the production team might replace it with a fresh serving to make sure everything looks appetizing in the scene

In some cases, food is reused across multiple takes, especially if the actor’s plate is relatively untouched. Since the actors don’t eat the food every time they film a scene, the crew may store the food in specific ways to keep it looking fresh for the next take. This practice is common on sets where food is a prop or in shows that frequently feature dinner scenes

Despite all these tricks, a lot of the success of these dinner scenes comes from the actors’ ability to sell the moment. The Blue Bloods cast members, who have played these characters for years, have honed their skills in making even the smallest interactions seem authentic. When you see the Reagan family members laughing or arguing while “eating” their meals, their ease in performing those moments contributes to the believability of the scenes.

For instance, Donnie Wahlberg (Danny Reagan) and Bridget Moynahan (Erin Reagan) have mentioned in interviews how they work together to maintain the energy of these family dinners, even if they’re not actually eating. They focus on their timing, reactions, and delivery to keep the scene engaging and authentic.

The Cast’s Personal Tricks and Experience

Throughout the years, the cast of Blue Bloods has developed their own personal tricks and techniques for handling food during the dinner scenes. Some actors might find it easier to fake-eat certain types of food, while others prefer to simply cut or move their food around. Many of them have perfected the art of avoiding food in their teeth or making sure they don’t look awkward while avoiding swallowing. They even joke about these “tricks” among themselves, sharing stories of what they’ve learned over time.

“We all have tricks,” says one cast member, noting how, despite the abundance of food on the table, they don’t actually eat nearly as much as it may seem. “You’ve got to pace yourself, and sometimes you just have to make it look like you’re really enjoying that turkey leg.”

The family dinner scenes on Blue Bloods are an integral part of the show’s heart, but as any viewer can see, they don’t necessarily involve a lot of actual eating. Through the clever use of props, food substitutes, and skilled techniques, the cast is able to make these moments look genuine without having to consume food constantly. The magic behind these scenes lies in the actors’ ability to create a warm, believable atmosphere at the dinner table, and their tricks with food ensure that they can continue to portray the Reagan family’s shared meals without having to worry about overeating or taking too many takes. After all, in the world of television, appearances can be deceiving!