A new study suggests that teens who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs:
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100922/family-dinners-reduce-teen-drug-use
and tht meals together improves the functioning of kids with asthma:
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-mealtime-asthma-20110205,0,2753785.story