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By Joseph Klein

Remember when evenings were spent doing relaxing things like meeting friends for drinks, going to the gym, or putting your feet up in front of the TV? Feels like a past life, right?

These days, your evenings are likely to be the most hectic time of the day. Your time is focused on feeding the kids, feeding you and your spouse, connecting with your spouse, throwing in a load of laundry, and picking up the toys scattered everywhere. If you're lucky, you might actually sit down and eat a bite.

A challenge, no doubt, but it can be done.  The trick to pulling off a successful dinner hour is to "make a commitment to get organized," says Liz Weiss, MS, RD, co-author of The Mom's Guide to Meal Makeovers (Broadway Books).  If you can stick to a fairly regular schedule, set up routines, and find creative ways to serve up family favorites, you and your entire family will benefit. Here are some mom-tested tricks for making dinner hour run like a well-oiled machine:

Cook one meal for all: "Being a short order cook for the entire family is one of the biggest mistakes people make," says Weiss. Once your children start eating real food, the same menu can apply to everyone. You just need to be creative and flexible. Your husband can eat mashed yams with his steak, and kids won't even notice the healthy addition of vegetables and lean ham to their macaroni and cheese. If dad gets home from work late, simply warming up a plate of leftovers will do the job and allow you some extra time to sit together and catch up on your days.

Keep a running list: Schedule time on weekends (when dad takes the kids for a walk) to plan a menu of five dinners for the coming week. Write down the ingredients you need to pick up at the store, recommends Weiss. Go out and buy everything in one big shopping spree. The alternative is running out for one or two items and that's not an efficient way to budget your time.

Stick to a timetable: "Having dinner on a regular schedule is good for everyone, but especially children," says Weiss. "The point is to be sure they're hungry and that they're not too tired to eat." Turn off the television and keep the atmosphere calm and quiet during mealtime. Distractions often keep kids from eating.

Turn to take out: "When you're feeling overwhelmed, or your spouse is out for the evening, give yourself a break and order take out," says Weiss. But beware -- nutritional needs can suffer with some fast food. Order salad and side vegetables to balance out the meal. Eat together whenever you can Studies have shown that children who grow up in households where families dine together are more creative and self-confident than those who don't. Family time around the dinner table also helps develop communication and social skills, not to mention a better understanding of nutrition.
 
Joseph Klein, the father of two young daughters, writes from Baltimore, Maryland.