Are you having a hard time connecting with your children or spouse? Is it hard to keep up with the family schedule? If you are like many families, family time together can be difficult to come by, so that is why mealtime is a great opportunity to spend time visiting with your family. The Family Mealtime Challenge is a University of Illinois Extension effort to encourage families to eat together. Fall is a great time for your family to "Strive for Five" by eating five meals together each week. Research shows some very real benefits to eating family meals at home. Here's a list of 10 good reasons to eat together:

• Kids do better in school.
• Kids have fewer behavior problems and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.
• Family communication improves.
• Kids like having time to talk to the adults in their lives.
• Kids understand their family's values.
• Traditions are created around meals.
• Meals are more healthful. Children eat more fruits and vegetables when families eat meals together and the more families eat meals together, the more likely the children will be healthy.
• Food dollars are better spent.
• Time is better used because the family only cooks one meal.

With all of these great benefits, why are family meals rare these days? Many parents say that time is the biggest issue. But, meals don't have to be time-consuming. To help families "strive for five" meals together, U of I Extension has several quick and easy recipes on this website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/regions/challenge. You'll find ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Easy "skillet" dinners are even included. If you don't have internet access, call your local U of I Extension office for a print copy of the recipe booklet. Be flexible about where and when you eat as a family. Prepare healthful, simple meals that allow you more time with your family

Even if families are all together at mealtimes, some families are not able to make the most of their time together. If your family decides to take the challenge, remember these tips for successful meals. It's important to turn off distractions like TVs and DVDs that will keep the family from becoming involved in meaningful conversation. Take only important phone calls. Parents should take the lead by role-modeling positive, child-focused conversations and practicing good-listening skills. Don't forget to get the kids involved in planning and preparing the meal because they will be more likely to try new things when they are involved in preparing them. And last but not least, be sure to avoid stressful topics during the meal – issues like money, school problems, cleaning their room, etc. Instead focus on positive topics that will make the meal fun. The above website also has examples of conversation starters for pre-schoolers through teenagers.

So why not give it a try! Encourage your family to take the family mealtime challenge and strive for five to see the results it has for you and your family.