Family mealtime matters. It may be hard to accomplish with long workdays, endless errands, household chores, and hectic school and activity schedules, but it's critical for so many reasons.

Eating together allows families to share and listen and learn with one another, to catch up on the day's events and prepare for days ahead. Parents get quality time with their busy bunch. Children feel valued as a result of focused attention. Kids who eat regular meals with their families are also less likely to use drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. They also improve their chances of fighting off obesity.

According to a Harvard study, the odds of being overweight were 15 percent lower for children who ate a family dinner on most days or every day of the week. Impressive -- and good reason to sit down together tonight. Now if dinner doesn't work for you, substitute another meal. Make breakfast your standing family meeting. Just plan and establish a mealtime, and make it a routine. Your family will thank you for the many benefits of this simple health strategy.

For more information about family dinners and about "Family Day" -- mark your calendars, it's on September 24 -- visit casafamilyday.org.