Dinner Together day is a good time to mention a new campaign from The Family Tree, a Baltimore nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse.

The initiative, which runs through April to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, is called "Mealtime -- The Great Family Time." Sponsored by Provident Bank, the campaign will advertise what we've already been talking about here: that studies show eating meals regularly with the family helps kids do better in school; resist smoking, drinking and drugs; and have a better sense of identity.

You can find some recipes to enjoy together on the organization's web site. Even more interesting to me was the list of 20 "conversation starters" to get the family talking around the table. Two I plan to try are:

"What is one item you own that you really should throw away -- but probably never will?"

"If snow could fall in any flavor, what flavor would you choose?"

What helps get you talking with your children at meal time?