Restaurant Discounts Promote Benefits of Family Dinners

Eating Together is Good for Kids: Family Day - September 22

by Melany Gray

(September 11, 2008) Dinner makes a difference. That’s the message from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) being promoted by Larchmont-Mamaroneck RADAR (Responsible Action: A Drug and Alcohol Resource), a community coalition devoted to reducing underage drinking and drug use.

Children and teens who frequently eat dinner with their families are at half the risk for substance abuse compared to teens who dine with their families infrequently. They also are less likely to have friends who use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs. In addition, they have lower levels of tension and stress at home and are more likely to say that they can confide in their parents.

To get the message out, Family Day 2008 -- on September 22 -- has been designated nationwide and by Westchester County as “a day to eat dinner with your family.” RADAR has supported this initiative in past years, and this year has partnered with the Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce to add a new “dine-out together” incentive to highlight the benefits of family meals and their impact on reducing the likelihood that children will smoke, drink or use other drugs.

Local restaurants in Larchmont and Mamaroneck are offering a 10% discount to families that dine together at their establishments from Sunday, September 21st through Wednesday, September 24th in celebration of Family Day 2008.

“We’re so pleased to have joined forces with our local business community, forming a private-public partnership to convey a critical message to our families,” said Janet Buchbinder, RADAR Coordinator and an active member for more than 12 years. ”We hope families whose schedules don’t typically allow them to eat together will mark their calendars now and use these days in September as an opportunity to enjoy spending time together over a meal.”

A Family Day 2008 brochure is being mailed to more than 4,000 families in the community. Included are insights about how frequent family dinners translate into greater emotional health for children, plus tips on “Meal-Time Conversation Starters” and “Ten Steps Parents Can Take to Prevent Teen Substance Abuse”. The brochure also includes a 10% discount coupon valid at participating restaurants during the four-day period.

More information about Family Day 2008 is available at casacolumbia.org. You can contact RADAR to learn more about its work and about studies showing how children who eat dinner regularly with their family are more likely to make positive and healthy choices by e-mailing: Info@LMRADAR.org.

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