Dinner is the time when families reconnect at the end of a busy day and enjoy the simple pleasure of sharing a meal together. Studies show that kids who eat with their families regularly do better in school, eat more nutritiously and are less likely to use drugs, tobacco or alcohol.

The trick is getting everybody to the table at the same time. Between the demands of after-school and evening activities and work schedules, who’s got time to cook? Too often, the family dinner means a quick trip to the drive-through lane.

Stock up on convenient, packaged fresh and frozen foods, and you can put together family-friendly meals in minutes:

• For quick salads, buy pre-washed salad greens and grape or cherry tomatoes that don’t have to be sliced.
• Sauté, steam or stir-fry pre-washed sliced vegetables. Or serve them as kid-friendly finger food they can munch on while you cook. Serve with low-fat ranch dip.
• Buy a rotisserie chicken and add homemade or frozen side dishes.
• Make an instant chicken Caesar salad with chopped leftover rotisserie chicken, pre-washed, bagged romaine and bottled Caesar dressing.
• Use convenience products, such tortilla or taco mixes.
• Set out a make-your-own tortilla bar with flour tortillas, bowls of precooked chicken, black beans, salsa, chopped onions, canned diced tomatoes (drained) and packaged grated Cheddar or Jack cheese.
• Toss store-bought stuffed pastas, like tortellini, with packaged cheese cubes, deli meat, bottled roasted peppers, canned artichokes and bottled Italian dressing for a main dish pasta salad.
• Pasta is a classic fast dinner. Use bottled pasta sauce to save time — there are dozens of varieties, so you’re sure to find one everyone will like.

Despite your best efforts, you may not be able get everyone in the family together every night for dinner. Don’t despair! Just aim for as many nights of the week as you can. You may not be able to choose the same time every night — but the goal is to have a time together when everyone can make it to dinner.

The dinner hour is a time to reconnect and let go of stress. So turn off the phones, turn off the television and tune in to each other. It’s a great time to share the day’s joys and trials, and to create lasting memories.