For busy families, it’s not always easy to sit down and have a family meal together. It’s usually easier to get something on the go. But did you know that fast foods are often higher in fat, salt and sugar? They are more expensive, too.

Busy parents don’t have a lot of time, and it’s possible to keep meals simple. It’s easy to buy a ready-made sauce or marinade and add it to lean meats for a tasty main dish.

To save time, you may want to double a favorite recipe, enjoying one meal now and freezing the other for some evening when you’re too tired to cook. No matter how simple the meal, take the time to sit down and enjoy it with your family.

Even if the family meal can only happen on the weekends, it’s a great way for the family to get together. Turn off the television, the video games and the computer. Kids can also help with preparing the meal or in setting the table.