Soccer practice, music lessons, hectic work schedules -- all manner of the real world are competing priorities and reasons why families may not be eating regular meals together.

While this may seem to be inconsequential, in the reality there are very good and well-documented reasons to make mealtime a family affair.

Nutritionally there is a correlation between family mealtime and food choices. For example, when children are required to participate in family mealtimes, they automatically increase the number of fruits and vegetables they'll eat and decrease their intake of soft drinks.

From an environmental standpoint, when families eat together there are positive academic and behavioral impacts. Research has shown that children who participate regularly in family mealtimes do better in school, achieve higher scores on academic achievement tests, and are less likely to abuse drugs and to be depressed.

So next time you're eating on the run, ask yourself what you and your family are sacrificing by not sitting down to a family meal together.

Mealtimes do matter!