Author and activist Laurie David is inspiring families to sit down together and connect daily over a meal. Her new book The Family Dinner offers terrific tips and recipes to make your meal time fun and delicious.

Studies have shown that children of families who eat together daily do better in school, are less likely to be overweight and have a reduced risk of alcohol and drug use.

A family dinner isn't all about the food. The time invested in your family, nurturing your relationship. is what makes the difference long term. It's the connection established and strengthened everyday. Your little ones will know they'll have your undivided attention and can look forward to it.  It takes planning and work for parents, but it's one of the best things you can do for the health of your entire family.

I know what you're thinking. You want to tell me about your long commute, your exhaustion at the end of the day, your child's activities that run right through dinner time. I know, I have the same problems.

For years, I envied friends who had their family around the table every night; my husband was rarely home in time due to his long commute.  I would feed the kids first and eat with him when he got home, but by then I needed to get the little women to bed, so it didn't work very well. At least one night a week they would have fast food on the way home from an activity. Nuggets made from chicken-like products are the Eighth Deadly Sin in my world and the guilt still stalks me.  

David's book offers options for families with long commutes, from having "tea time" before bed to having a family breakfast in the morning. The food doesn't have to be extravagant, though the book includes many delicious family friendly recipes that are quick and easy for busy parents. It also includes dinner time games, ways to get the conversation flowing, creating an inviting table and keeping it green in the kitchen.  

Everything doesn't have to be perfect. Just do the best you can to share a little time together over a meal and talk. Stay connected.

Last night over Chinese takeout (thanks to Vroom Service) my girls and I sat down together. I'll admit that this time of day is usually a little stressful for me. I often rush through dinner so I can clean up and move on to the next events — homework, baths, reading time and finally bedtime. Instead of rushing, we tried out one of the conversation starters from The Family Dinner.

Each person at the table had to share the worst and best part of their day. The Butterfly (age six) went first. "Gym, lunch, snack and recess were the best," she told us. "And the worst," I asked, concerned about the can of worms I was opening. "Everything else," she declared. We giggled at her dramatic description of a tough day in the first grade and she laughed right along with us.

Oddly enough, the conversation kept them engaged long enough that two out of three daughters ate their broccoli without a complaint and we experienced a delightful absence of bickering. The Princess (age three) did get sidetracked and used her rice as make-up, patting it all over her cheeks, but hey, it was all in good fun.

Here are a few ideas you can use tonight to get your family dinners going in the right direction:

• Get the kids involved. Request their help setting the table, preparing the meal or helping with clean up. Chat while you work.
• Remember your goal: to have fun together. Use some conversation starters or try the laughing game (see video on right).
• Let the dinner hour become a time to relax and let go of the stresses of the day. Stop worrying about what tomorrow will bring and be present with your kids.
• Turn off the TV, put your BlackBerry out of reach and declare your table a technology free zone, at least for an hour.

As I started packing up the leftovers last night, the Adventurer (age 11) realized I didn't have a chance to share the best and worst of my day. "What about you, Mom?"

"The worst part was standing in the rain at the bus stop," I said.  "The best part was having dinner with my girls."