Easy dinners for pool/playground evenings
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Anonymous
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In the summer, we often spend the late afternoon/early evening out of the house at a playground or the pool. I find that rushing to get home in order to get DD8 and DD2 fed and bathed and in bed by their respective bedtimes (9pm and 7pm) is stressful and would like to have a couple nights when we move the dinner portion to wherever we've been. DH is with us most of the time and is totally on board, with some constraints. I wondered if maybe this board had ideas about stuff to eat that falls within the following limitations.
1) DH is on a low carb diet and does not eat meat other than seafood. 2) DD2 will not eat sandwiches - I swear she does not understand conceptually that they are food. We are working on it, but for the time being, no sandwiches for her or DH. 3) DD8 does not eat meat other than pepperoni on pizza. Some things that we have done in the past that we will continue to do: Veggie "chicken nuggets" with a sauce to dip and raw veggies Black bean and cheese burritos Cheese and crackers Pasta salad DH is mostly the issue. His go to is tuna salad or salmon, but the salmon doesn't keep particularly well and I'd like him to have more options than tuna salad because that's boring. TIA! |
Anonymous
| Make food for yourself and kids. Screw DH. He can darn well take care of himself if he needs more options beyond what works for you and your kids. |
Anonymous
| I also have a kid who doesn't eat sandwiches. I'll bring him cheese and crackers, fruit, pretzels, hardboiled eggs, etc. For DH you could do a cold salad - spinach, veggies, tuna, etc. But I kind of agree if he's that picky he needs to fend for himself. |
Anonymous
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OP here. I agree that he's picky, but I'm not always the one taking people to the playground/park. I work late 2 days a week, so during those days, it's him doing this stuff. Either way, since this board is populated by people who are cutting carbs, I thought they might have some go-to ideas. Fine if that's not you, but I'm not just going to starve one family member.
I was kind of thinking that maybe what he needs is an adult lunchable of sorts with veggies and hardboiled eggs and cheese. |
Anonymous
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Yes adult lunchable, but we also call it "charcuterie". You can have crackers or bread, but everything is separate, not compiled into a sandwich or something. Get some cheese the kids like, some salty meat your DH likes, some fruit and veggies for the side. Get a baguette or yummy crackers. You can add in things like a pasta salad the kids may like (aka: whatever pasta they normally like, just served at room temp) if your kids need something else. You could get to-go peanut butter cups to make PB cracker sandwiches or to put on apples.
Basically deconstructed dinner with a few options with something everyone will eat/like. |
Anonymous
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Cold salmon works well for a salad. Or you can give nova lox with cream cheese and cucumber.
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Anonymous
How is your husband not capable of feeding himself *and his children*? Why is this all on you? If dinner's your job, sure. Make dinner. And if he doesn't like it, he can go to the kitchen and fix himself something. Like a big boy! |
Anonymous
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Ds is 6 and really doesn't eat sandwiches. I'm not a big fan either. I don't get what the big deal is.
We usually do leftover grilled chicken, cut up veggies, cheese, and fruit. Sometimes will throw the grilled chicken and cheese in a burrito type roll up. |
Anonymous
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I pack picnics all the time. My fridge is basically a Tetris of tupperware filled with chopped veggies, cheese cubes, cold meats, hummus/dips, pasta salad, cole slaw, any leftovers. And I have a dozen ziploc bags filled with water/ice in the freezer, so I can keep everything cold.
Take an afternoon and filled small tupperwares with anything anyone in the family will eat. Don't envision providing a coherent "meal" -- just include enough fruit/veg/protein to keep them alive. Each person can decide which of the offered items they will eat. If that means Larla has grapes, hummus, salami and peanut butter on crackers for dinner, sobeit. |
Anonymous
+1 Bonus, kids love "snack dinner." |
Anonymous
| Have DH grill a bunch of shrimp at some point. Then he can toss it over a salad for picnic nights. This is what I do and it's delicious cold. Same with leftover salmon. |
Anonymous
| similar to what many posters have suggested - one hit with my 2 & 5 year olds has been pizza rolls (pizza dough, sauce, chopped pepperoni, cheese - baked in a muffin pan) served with a small container of sauce, 1 string cheese and a couple more pepperoni (turkey) plus fruit. I'll also do leftover pasta and veg in a heated thermos. I like the everyday lunch boxes (3 compartments). I do lots of salads for myself. |
Anonymous
| Would your DH do quiche? Kids might like that with a cold salad or just raw veg. too? If crust too many carbs, crustless and give kids rolls. |
Anonymous
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We do evening picnics charturie style all summer long. Any combination of fruits, raw veggies, a few nuts, cheese slices, and crackers or mini pitas (meat if we have leftovers but I don't cook for this).
Hummus, avocado, greek yogurt dips, falafel are all veggie options maybe your dh could work into a salad or pita wrap? or shrimp kebabs or a sushi tray? We've become fond of the veggie balls from IKEA which are soy-free. Another thing that might help is to have DH eat his main meal w fish at lunch those days |
Anonymous
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