October is National Eat Better, Eat Together month — reminding us that sharing meals with family and friends is not only emotionally uplifting, but also carries numerous health advantages.

• Talk time. Eating together opens communication lines and strengthens family bonds. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, children who regularly have meals with their families are more likely to choose fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and less likely to eat unhealthy salty or sugary snacks. They also tend to have better grades and fewer behavioral problems, studies report.

• Mealtime roundup. If dinner doesn’t work, try a family breakfast. You don’t need to eat together 7 days a week to achieve the healthy benefits — begin with 1 weekly family meal and slowly build to 3 times a week or more.

• Home cooking. Choose simple recipes, prepare some ingredients in advance, or use leftovers as side dishes. Involve kids with dinner preparation by giving them age-appropriate duties. If they can’t chop vegetables, they can peel carrots or fold napkins.