Busy working parents often don’t intersect with their soccer-playing kids to sit down for an evening meal. An effort is underway to change that, starting today with National Eat Dinner Together Week. Pam Johnson, spokeswoman for the Des Moines-based National Pork Board, says studies have found the families who can make time to have a meal together can grow closer through the conversation over that meal. Johnson says “it’s just natural that communication is better. When families communicate they know what’s going on and they can be around to help support when things go wrong or just know what’s happening in their lives.” Johnson says a recent survey found many Midwestern families -are- finding the time to chow down at the same table at the same time. Seven out of ten families surveyed -do- sit down to dinner together at least four times a week, but the main challenge was that the meal preparer was spending more time in the kitchen preparing the meal than was spent at the dinner table actually eating what was prepared. 91-percent of those surveyed spent more time making the meal than eating it. Johnson says cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be interesting and unusual. The Pork Board is offering a series of tips on how people can make fast meals that are nutritious and tasty. She says the hassle-free recipes include one pork product, less than five other ingredients and a total preparation and cook time of 40 minutes or less. Surf to “www.otherwhitemeat.com” for details and the free recipes. The brochure is also available by writing to: “No Recipe Required: Delicious Pork Meals in Minutes,” National Pork Board, P.O. Box 9114, Des Moines, IA 50306.