Two tips for a more healthy diet: Plan ahead. And eat dinner at the table. It's that simple, according to RealAge.

Most people have no idea what to serve up for dinner until the very last minute. That's dangerous, the perfect opportunity for a spin through the drive-thru or a frozen meal thrown in the microwave. Planning ahead is key. Think about what you're going to eat and shop ahead of time. You'll be more likely to include fruits, veggies and other healthy fare in the mix if you do.

As for eating at the table, it's good for you too. It'll help you slow down, enjoy your food and cut a few calories too.

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In addition to coaxing our kids to eat their vegetables, it seems my husband and I are forever correcting our kids at the dinner table. "Sit up straight." "Don't play with your food." "Chew with your mouth closed." The coaching never ends. We keep at it because we want our boys to be polished when eating in public or dining at friends' houses. It's a tough job, though, as it should be.

For us, table manners are automatic -- as simple as chewing and swallowing, say the editors at Scholastic Parent & Child magazine. For a child, learning to behave at mealtime is big stuff. It takes a whole new set of skills to master manners. And it's our job to teach those skills, no matter how hard the job. Here are a few tactics we all might employ during our respective mealtime madness moments.

• Role play table manners during a tea party or while playing "restaurant." You'll have fun, while practicing and teaching lessons all at the same time.
  
  

• Keep rules simple and positive so your kids can remember them. "We sit." "We eat with our forks."
  
  
• Reinforce rules during mealtime. Hand your child a fork and napkin, and remind him to use them.
  
  
• Set a good example. Role model the manners you want to see your child display. Eventually, he will follow in your footsteps.
  
  
• Get silly. Practice bad manners and ask your child to identify what you're doing wrong.

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Need to connect with your family after a busy day of school, work, errands, and more? Need to calmly settle a conflict with a member of your clan? Need to work on fine-tuning your healthy diet? Then there's one place you ought to visit: The kitchen table.

I heard a guest on a radio morning program the other day refer to "the kitchen table conference." It's where relationships are formed, sealed, and mended, she explained. I instantly thought that it's also the place where our diet intentions unfold -- or crumble -- and where we teach our kids the merits of nutrition, the power of portion control, the food lessons they'll carry on through life.

There's a lot that goes on at the kitchen table. So next time you are at yours, nestled closely to the ones you love, consider making a conference out of your time together. Talk about health, food, and lifestyle choices. The discussion will do you all some good. The bonding that results will be icing on the cake.