Family dinners do more than just fill you up. Research shows that more frequent family meals can lead to less drug use and other risky behaviors among children. Family Day 2014, which takes place on Monday, September 22nd, spreads awareness about the importance of regular family meals to families and communities across the U.S.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASAColumbia) at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. Family meals are the perfect time to talk to your kids and to listen to what's on their mind. CASA created Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children in 2001 as a national movement that reminds moms and dads that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is a simple, yet effective way to help keep their kids substance free.

So what's the harm in skipping family meals? According to CASA, compared to children who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), children who have infrequent family dinners (less than three per week) are:

• Twice as likely to have used tobacco
• Almost twice as likely to have used alcohol
• One and a half times likelier to have used marijuana

Want to promote Family Day in your child's school? Sign up here to be an Informed Families Ambassador. We'll provide you with everything you need to promote this wonderful campaign. Stay tuned for more great family friendly resources in the coming weeks!