(BPT) - Increasingly hectic lives make at-home meal preparation more challenging than ever, but it’s still important. If you feel like your family life has never been busier, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, 58 percent of parents say their life is more hectic than a year ago, and having a long to-do list can cut into their mealtime.

Jenny Rosenstrach is a working mother of two and the author of “Dinner: A Love Story.” Through her blog of the same name, she hears about mealtime barriers from thousands of time-strapped parents a month. Now, Rosenstrach has partnered with Barilla to offer tips on how to put a quick, home-cooked and crowd-pleasing dinner on the table, even on the busiest of nights.

Make a plan, stock your pantry