Good Reasons for Families to Eat Together.

• Children who eat at home with their families tend to eat more fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and get more of several vitamins and minerals. They also eat fewer fried foods and soft drinks and less saturated fat and trans fat.1
• Eating together gives you an opportunity to be a good role model. Display good eating habits such as enjoying a variety of foods from the MyPyramid foods groups, choosing moderate portions, and eating nutrient-rich foods such as cereal, fruits, veggies and milk.
• You and your family can form a bond by spending time together, enjoying this special time to talk and catch up on the day's events.

Tips for Mealtime Togetherness.

• Make it a priority. Eat together at least four times a week, if you can. If you aren't eating any meals together now, start by making one meal a week together a habit ... then increase your family meals from there. Schedule family meals on the calendar, so everyone knows it's a "date."
• Plan ahead. After you've scheduled your "dates" with your family, plan what you will eat and who will be responsible for what tasks. If you have something in your mind and in the fridge for the meal, you are more likely to make it happen.
• Think beyond dinner. If dinner's not doable, share a snack with your kids to catch up on the day's events. Or, eat breakfast together—cereal, milk and fruit on a busy weekday morning, or a more leisurely breakfast on weekends. Make breakfast together with Baked French Toast with Orange-Berry Sauce.
• Get set to save time. If you're having breakfast together, set the table and put out cereal boxes the night before. If dinner's on the agenda, set the table before you leave for the day, or extend family time together by recruiting kids to help prepare the meal.
• Make family meals fun. Give everyone a turn to tell a joke or describe the most interesting thing that happened during their day.
• Learn from each other. Ask your kids to describe one thing they learned in school, or get everyone's viewpoints on a current event.
• Focus on family time. Make it a rule—no TV or phone calls during mealtime!

References:
1. "Position of the American Dietetic Association: Dietary Guidance for Healthy Children Ages 2 to 11 Years." American Dietetic Association, 2004.