In our family - like in so many other - this is absolutely not the case. 

Sports, meetings etc. do that we rarely are joined at the table. However, dinner should still be tasteful and delicious also when you are the last to arrive. 

My rules for for dinner are easy to follow; it must taste good, it must be healthy and finally; cheap. I usually also do large scale grocery shopping, spend a weekend every three months on cooling (yes, all day!) and put everything in the freezer.

"Sacrificing" one weekend now and then is well spent, since I free a lot of time on every day basis.