This happens with increasing regularity now that most people are less covid cautious and our kids are older (still younger than yours though, OP).
Here are things that we do
-as PPs have suggested, stretch with bread, pasta, fruit, etc
-in summer especially, we tend to keep hot dogs on hand, easy to stretch a main protein.
-keep stuff for easy “meals for lots of people” on hand and scrap the original plan. I probably wind up doing this 3-4x/month. Spaghetti and jarred sauce, mac and cheese, pasta with (stuff) - the trick is to not have the main be a big chunk of meat.
-Feed different groups of people (ie parents vs kids) at slightly different times, unobtrusively, and the adults get something that’s slightly different.
-we always have ramen, box mac and cheese, and frozen chicken tenders on hand.

That said, I am the leftovers queen, and my younger kids thrive on a picnic “eat while you run around the yard” dinner - so a smorgasbord menu and/or leftovers doesn’t faze them at all.

And ITA with PP - you WANT to do this and be the house where everyone feels comfortable.

If it’s happening often, it’s a sign to be more prepared. Once in a blue moon, order pizza. But enough that you’re asking? Plan better and keep food on hand. If you have too many leftovers, make Friday night “clean the fridge night” and people pick a meal and eat it.

Anonymous wrote:My grandmother used to say FHB- which we all understood to stand for family hold back!

Oh my goodness. Please, never turn into this type of family.

Like someone else said, it doesn’t all have to “go.” It’s perfectly understandable if you simply don’t have more salmon. But you have to provide quantity if you are going to invite people or allow your children to invite them. Does a Stouffer’s frozen mac and cheese “go” with salmon? No. But heating it up and serving it alongside the now-not-enough planned dinner is way better than “FHB.”

But at this point in the game, a kid’s friend staying over unexpectedly has happened so often that it now should be…expected. So stock up, even if it is frozen pizza or frozen mac and cheese, or more dry goods like pasta and marinara, and simply be prepared to put more food on the table with short notice. Or get a few takeout menus and do takeout on nights with friends over.

When my son was 8, our neighbors kids would stay for dinner. We eat at 6:30 almost every day. And the kids would come out of their house about then. They all end up at our house. Most of the times, they were ( and still are) hungry. Their parents don't feed them until 8! When the mom found out I was feeding them, she told them never to stay for dinner. I just feel bad cause their kids are so hungry all the time.

Cook more. Trust me, you WANT to be the family that always has the kids buddies over for dinner. You get extra time with your kid and learn about the goings on at school, plus the knowledge that your kid is safe at home vs out who knows where with their friends. 10/10 worth the extra money for the extra food and eating leftovers for lunch even if it’s not your favorite. Sometimes my son eats the same amount as I do, and sometimes it’s triple that, so we making larger servings should be expected anyway!

Otherwise, raw shrimp and frozen bread and veggies are good to have on hand. Shrimp thaws quickly and can be added as an appetizer or into the entree. Ditto frozen veggies - broccoli or green beans can be added to a lot of things I’m already cooking. And I buy sister shuberts frozen parker house rolls, they heat up quickly and are delicious. Two pans of those added to dinner help bulk the meal up a lot.

But really, just plan to make extra every meal. Soon enough your kids will be out of the house, and if you can afford a few extra dollars to double the recipe, it will be well worth it.

I turn a grilled chicken dish into a pasta bake. We have some new neighbors whose kids seem to always show up at mealtime and it’s become my routine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you Swedish?

Am I the only one missing the joke?

There was a story about a person who was made to wait in the bedroom of a friend while the friend (and family) ate dinner downstairs. They were Swedish.

No, it was worse. The kid was seated at the table watching his friend’s family eat dinner.

Buy more food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you Swedish?

Am I the only one missing the joke?

There was a story about a person who was made to wait in the bedroom of a friend while the friend (and family) ate dinner downstairs. They were Swedish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you Swedish?

Am I the only one missing the joke?

Yes, because you apparently don't read the New York Times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you Swedish?

Am I the only one missing the joke?

There was a story about a person who was made to wait in the bedroom of a friend while the friend (and family) ate dinner downstairs. They were Swedish.

If I can't stretch it I usually decide to make breakfast for dinner and save my stuff for the next day. Every kid likes breakfast for dinner and it's fast, easy and healthy.