My husband is also home late each night. I work FT and do all the cooking. I make meals that hold up well over time on low heat. I also do really simple sides -- bagged salad, steamed plain veg, etc. One of my current faves is cut up boneless chicken breast and cut up red potato in a baking dish with a few dots of butter scattered around on top and a packet of italian dressing seasoning on top. Cook for about 30-40 mins around 375. I steam a veg as a side. I give my daughter dinner and then keep the chicken and potato dish warm until my husband comes home and steam green beans when he gets home.

I also make things like chili, butter chicken, tacos, enchiladas, etc. Those things can rest on low heat until my husband gets home. When he gets home, I fix him a plate, throw some salad in a bowl, and he has dinner within a few mins of coming home.

I do not make things that really need to be served fresh from the cooking source -- no frittatas, no steaks, no breakfast for dinner, no fish dishes.

I can do whole baked chicken breasts -- marinate and bake type things -- I tell him to call me or text when he is leaving work and then I throw it in the oven so it is done pretty close to when he gets home. I have a couple dishes with bread crumbs or crushed pecans as a crust so it is better right out of the oven. I prepare portions for all of us and then cook mine and my daughter's portions. I keep his in the fridge until he texts and then I throw his in the oven to cook.

My husband is the king of the picky eaters and he has never had any problem with my two tiered dinner service. Usually when we talk to him in the evening, my daughter will tell him what dinner is and if he doesn't want part of it he tells me in advance. "Mommy made chicken and green beans and mashed potatoes and she gave me the green beans first!" And then when I talk to him he may ask me if I mind if he has salad instead of green beans which saves me the extra step of heating them when he gets home.

It isn't perfect, but it works for us.

While i agree with the other, he sould be eating left overs but if he must have a "fresh meal" maybe this will help. if you stay at home, can you make something while the kids are at school? You can season/prepare chicken, beef, tofu, or fish, steam veggies, and prepare a salad. When he gets home simply reheat the veggies, put out the salad and cook the meat. Hope this helps!

Look: you are married to your husband, not the kids. He needs to come first, and kids don't care if their dinner is reheated. He does.

This is why so many of you have failing marriages.