How do people get dinner on the table by 6:00?

[Anonymous]

We eat late in my house. Like 8:00 or 9:00 most nights. I have a child but she’s still a baby so I haven’t had to worry about eating with kids yet. I grew up eating pretty late because we would wait for my dad to get home to eat as a family and he worked until 8:00 or 9:00 most nights. My husband grew up eating dinner at 5:00 or 6:00! I didn’t even know that was a thing but he says it’s normal in most of America. He doesn’t mind eating late, but I’m concerned about how things will work when I have older children. How do people get dinner on the table so early?? Both of us work but in pretty non demanding jobs with lots of telework. I cook and my husband cleans. I cook mostly from scratch. I understand that the answer is just start early but are people really starting to cook at 3:30? And how did that work before telework? Both of my husband’s parents worked out of the house and they somehow got food on the table very early. He does say that they ate fast food somewhat often. Is it really normal to eat dinner at 5:00 or 6:00? I didn’t grow up in America.

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid my mom picked me up from aftercare at 5:15, we were home by 5:30, and dinner was on the table when my dad walked in around 6-6:15.

When I was in high school I mostly did activities at school immediately after school so same deal: my dad picked me up and mom arrived home before us at 5:30 and we ate by 6:30 (I think by this time she felt she could relax a bit on the time and take a few minutes before starting to cook).

When I had a little kid it was easy because I mostly worked from home and DH was often home by 6:30 so I just had it ready when he got home. If he was late I fed the kid and sometimes ate with the kid or sometimes waited.

Now I am home at a decent time and still WFH a lot but with a teen the sports practices and stuff are too much. Half the week we just eat whatever and eat again after practice. I prioritize family dinner on weekends, Monday, and Friday. It works for us and we eat around 6:30.

Our families were never late eating familys.

[Anonymous]

Well I don't cook meals that require me to be in the kitchen for 2.5 hrs. At least not during the week. Most weekday meals have a 45 min cook time, tops. DH works from home and consistently gets done at 515. I get home at 4ish. We eat around 630-700 depending on if DS has an activity. We are asleep around 10. I get up at 530 for work and DH gets up at 6 to work out.

My best friend grew up with a similar schedule as you. They've compromised on a 730-8 dinnertime

[Anonymous]

Weekend meal prep. That is the only way I know of to do it with both partners working.

[Anonymous]

I start cooking around 5pm/5:30, and dinner is ready an hour later. I don’t work so I have the time.

[Anonymous]

We eat around 6. It means prep happens before hand (eg today the chicken marinade was made yesterday), then I only had to throw it in the air fryer and make the rice noodles, cut up some veggies, and done…but basically we have a handful of 30 minutes meals on rotation. We have an 8 yo who needs to be in bed by 730…

[Anonymous]

We eat at 6:30 or 7pm with our elementary aged kids. When they were babies-preschoolers they ate at 5:30 or MAYYYYYBE 6pm, because they were going to bed at 7pm. When they were little we made one meal, DH and I ate after they were in bed, and then they ate the leftovers from that the following night. Sometimes our dinners are very simple - the other night it was croquettes, a salad, and a bowl of carrots and tomatoes.

When they ate dinner at 5:30 the nanny was feeding them.

[Anonymous]

We eat at 6:30. I do a lot of prep work after the kids go to bed, and I also cook in batches and plan for leftovers. I stock my freezer a few weekend days here or there a month.

While I do cook a lot and don’t rely on prepared foods or takeout very often, weeknights are fairly simple dishes and aren’t complex, belabored affairs.

[Anonymous]

I work 7-4 and DH works 6-3. Thats how we get dinner on the table by 5pm because we are starving. Soups are made on the weekends so easy to freeze and defrost on day of consumption. First one home gets things started. Everyone cleans up. Its so simple i don't think about it.

[Anonymous]

We used to eat late too and then switched to between 6-6:30 with kids. I do a combo of make ahead (eg make chili on weekend, heat up at 5:45 and it’s ready at 6), making ahead components (eg make shredded chicken for tacos after kids alseep, then next day between 530-6 heat meat up, grate cheese, cut up tomatoes, etc. so it’s not really cooking that day but still eating a freshly made meal for the most part), and cooking a meat and veg in 30 mins (eg burgers and broccoli with cut up cucumber)

[Anonymous]

We eat at 6:30 used to be 6. Meals are 30 min to cook (me) if DH is making it it takes him an hour unless its scrambled eggs. I also make things like lasagna and stews AFTER dinner or during (baking) for dinner the next night. We always babe a main (meat/fish/big veg), starch, salad or chopped vegetables and usually a hot vegetable too. Im extremely efficient cook but i also dont make fancy things on weekdays. I WOH every day at office, dh is at home 1/2 the week.

[Anonymous]

Pp again. In summer we grill and eat outside a lot. To make that happen, i put things into marinade in the am while kids are having breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Prep as much as possible the night before. Make things that don't take long to cook.

This week we had:
Burrito bowls: chopped chicken into cubes the night before. Chopped veggies the night before. Stored both in Tupperware in the fridge. Arrived home at 5:30. Cilantro lime rice mix in the instant pot for 5 minutes. Chicken & taco seasoning in a hot skillet. When almost cooked, add veggies (bell pepper, onion, corn, zucchini). Canned beans heated in the microwave. Shredded cheese & sour cream. Dinner on the table by 6.

Prep later that night for the next day:
Pulled individual salmon portions from the freezer the night before (Costco) to thaw overnight. Cut broccoli into florets. Cut veggies for a salad.
2nd night: salmon on one tray and broccoli on another tray, 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat dinner rolls and assemble salad. Dinner on the table 30 minutes after I get home.
Etc.

Also lots of repurposing leftovers, like roasting a whole chicken (or two) on the weekend, and using the extra on pasta with cream sauce and asparagus. Or cook several large steaks, and use the leftovers cold on a steak salad.

[Anonymous]

They ‘work’ from home so they have all day to prep for dinner.

[Anonymous]

I will cook whenever I have time during the day and then heat up 30 minutes before dinner time which is usually 5pm. Or I will prep beforehand like on the weekends, cut up all the veggies (or just buy pre-chopped), and start cooking at 415 to get everything on the table by 5pm. Easy meals always!