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Come Together For Mealtime

Family Day can bring your busy crew to the table

Soccer. Dance class. Working late. Errands. Yoga. Homework. Committee meetings.... Whoa. We know there are a million and one reasons why it's difficult to get your family together for a meal. It seems everyone has something going on from dawn to dusk. As difficult as it is to find the time to all sit down at the table together, research shows that families that eat together are happier, and their children tend to be more successful in life. Moreover, research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.

So what's the key to getting everyone to sit down at the table at the same time? Of course, there is no single answer, but one strategy that works for many families is to hold a very special Family Day dinner at least once a month, but more often if you want. Think of Family Day as a reminder of how important it is to bring the family together.

Here are some ideas to help you create your own special Family Day.

• Start with an inspired meal, something unexpected that will get everyone excited about coming to the table. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just appetizing, healthy, and out-of-the-ordinary.
• Have children plan the menu once a month and let them help you prepare the meal.
• Give family members the opportunity to pick a theme for each Family Day - 1950s diner, the princess and her court, the superhero family, Alice in Wonderland, wear your favorite hat, etc.
• Have an indoor picnic in January. Spread a blanket out on the living room floor and serve hot dogs, potato salad, lemonade, etc.
• Use Family Day to celebrate your family's heritage or the heritage of other cultures. It could be a Mexican fiesta, a candle-lit Italian meal or English pub food. Have everyone bring a fact to the table about the selected country, culture or ethnic group.
• Your unique Family Day dinner can be an opportunity for family members to share their creativity and conversation. Have family members write short stories or poems and bring them to share on Family Day. How about crazy costume Family Day? Everyone comes to the meal in the funniest, wackiest costume they can think of.

These are just a few tips for creating your unique Family Day meal. Use your imagination to design Family Days that are a perfect fit for your family. You'll be very glad you did.