We eat at 430 frequently. Tonight we ate at 430 and have 2 activities back to back. I pack a snack for after the first one and after the 2nd one. We get home at 830 and DD goes straight to bed. ( 2nd activity is swim so she showers there and puts Jammie’s on) Tonight I made vegetarian baked ziti. Took about 20 mins total. Tomorrow we’ll have leftovers. We all like Lentil soup over rice. It takes about 5 minutes to heat up/cook.

Similar ages and schedule in our house. We aim for a heavy snack before the game and dinner afterward. My 11yo doesn’t like to play on a really full stomach, and is always starving after the game even if we did eat beforehand.

Yes to crockpot or prepped ahead meals that can be reheated. Since you have a 14yo who may be staying home for some of the games, I’ll also mention that I’ve sometimes prepped a casserole the night before, and asked my 14yo to put it in the oven 30-45 minutes before we get home. Takes them 5 minutes, and walking in the house to a freshly cooked dinner is heavenly.

Anonymous wrote:Need some inspiration. DD has to arrive at her game by 5:15 (leave house by 5pm) - it begins at 6pm and isn’t over until 8pm (softball), home around 8:15. DH is one of the coaches and I also like to attend the games.

It feels too early to eat at 4:30pm and we end up just getting Chick-fil-A or pizza at 8pm which is getting old.

What do others do? Any ideas?

I have one kid who has a similar schedule 4 days a week, and another who practices right after school, and then sometimes goes out again for a second activity.

They just eat dinner twice. The first meal they fix for themselves when they walk in the door. I keep a bunch of things in the fridge that can be thrown on a plate or bowl, and maybe heated up. Then when the last kid comes home from the last practice or activity or game, we sit together and eat another meal.

I try to make a lot of things that either can sit in the crockpot or the fridge, or that I can freeze and pull out later.

OP here. Thanks all. I just need to up my planning game, dust off the old crockpot, etc. You all are right that reheating something i made earlier in the day is better than takeout or trying to cook something quickly at 8:15pm.

The 14 year old definitely doesn't wait for us, but unless I've pre made something she's likely to fix herself scrambled eggs or cereal.

We are in the thick of this too, 3 kids with variable sports schedules and games and practices most evenings. I attempt for the ‘meal’ earlier and then sometimes a second portion when we get home, or else a PB sandwich or something else substantial before bed.

I have been leaning heavily into the crock pot. Things like shredded chicken, chili, anything that can sit on warm for a few hours so it’s ready for whenever people can eat. If one kid has a late game and the other has an early practice, everyone just eats when they can. Sometimes a kid will have had a bigger lunch or snack right after school and isn’t hungry at 4:30, so I’ll bring some food to the game and they can grab a snack while waiting on the bench (this is for baseball, I don’t know about eating mid soccer game or swim meet!)

We have a crazy schedule like that for much of the fall. I usually cook dinner around noon because I do it on my lunch break. Things like fried rice (add chicken or shrimp), chili, tacos, spaghetti & meatballs. You can grill a salmon filet and serve it cold for dinner, or nuke it if you're my 16 year old and feel the need to eat the entire filet before anyone else gets home.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She is 11. We also have a 14 yo who sometimes but doesn’t always attend the games, depending upon schedule/homework. It’s typically 1 night a week unless there is a makeup game.

I do often have time to prep ahead of time, I’m just never sure what to do and if we should attempt to eat it at 4:30 or 8:30. Ack.

I'm a huge believer in family meals but this might be the night where people eat in shifts. If the 14yr old is at home she shouldn't have to wait until 8:30 at night to eat.

What happens between when she has to be there at 5:15 and the 6pm start time? You didn’t say there is practice so it seems like a big gap and if so pack something to eat then and then another “snack” after to all add up to a meal.

OP here. She is 11. We also have a 14 yo who sometimes but doesn’t always attend the games, depending upon schedule/homework. It’s typically 1 night a week unless there is a makeup game.

I do often have time to prep ahead of time, I’m just never sure what to do and if we should attempt to eat it at 4:30 or 8:30. Ack.

How many days per week? If it’s one, I would just do leftovers.

You could also do:

Burgers - for quick nights, we do carrot chips and fruit as sides
Spaghetti - with a jarred sauce, this is less than 30 minutes
Tacos
Salads - you could cook some protein before the game, and then add toppings to make it heartier

If you have an Instant Pot, and you have the time to set up before the game, then possibilities are endless.

Takeout makes me feel terrible so I use the crockpot or instant pot to have something for us to eat when we get home. Chili, beef stew, pulled pork, a whole chicken (microwave veggies and rice for sides). My kids are always hungry when they get home from school (heck so am I) so we do eat a sandwich or something hearty like yogurt and granola Al at 4:30.

Have a fruit smoothie stuffed with bananas before the game, gin up some leftovers after the game like pizza slices. Once cold weather comes, leftover chili or bean soup.

How old? We have one weeknight per week like that due to scheduling. I think for my middle schooler eating her primary meal after 8pm is too late since lights out is 9:15.

Normal schedule might be an afterschool snack around 3 when she gets home from school and we normally eat dinner around 6:30. Lunch was at 11am.

On that one day per week she does eat dinner at 4 or 4:30pm. If I have something in the slow cooker, that's great. Leftovers are the next option. Finally it might just be a pb&j with some fruit. If she's hungry when she gets home at 8pm then she'll have a small snack before showering and getting ready for bed and the next day.

Do you all go in one car? Even if it's less environmentally sound we'll sometimes take two cars to activities like this. That way, one of us can leave early to get our dinner ready or pick something up.

Anything in a crockpot:

White Turkey Chili
Chicken and cheese enchiladas
pulled pork bbq sandwiches
Braised short ribs with lettuce wraps and rice

Need some inspiration. DD has to arrive at her game by 5:15 (leave house by 5pm) - it begins at 6pm and isn’t over until 8pm (softball), home around 8:15. DH is one of the coaches and I also like to attend the games.

It feels too early to eat at 4:30pm and we end up just getting Chick-fil-A or pizza at 8pm which is getting old.

What do others do? Any ideas?