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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
I find we have 2 nights where we get home from activities and only have a little longer than an hour before bed. I hate to push bed time back because they are tired already with our early bedtime.
I find that it is a big rush to get them in the door, dinner on the table, 2 showers and bedtime routine in that time. I do it alone as DH doesn't get home until long after they are asleep so showering while I cook isn't practical.
Any healthy suggestions that are very quick and easy to throw on the table? Nothing with dairy as DD is allergic to milk so no cheese etc.
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Posted 9/26/13 8:04 PM  |
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lcherian
He is the reason!
Member since 2/06 2512 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
How about breakfast for dinner? Omlettes, oatmeal, sausage and fruit.
Message edited 9/26/2013 8:09:55 PM.
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| Posted 9/26/13 8:09 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
I would reheat leftovers! Seriously. Just plan your meals where you can microwave soup or a one pot meal that night.
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| Posted 9/26/13 8:21 PM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
The crockpot is your friend!
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| Posted 9/26/13 9:09 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Rottiserie chicken
steamer bag of veggies
90 second bag of brown rice
Omelet with veggies
Chicken noodle soup
Cut up carrots, cucumber and hummus or dressing
Fish sticks in the toaster oven
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| Posted 9/26/13 9:59 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by Eireann
The crockpot is your friend!
Don't have one.
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| Posted 9/26/13 11:10 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by lcherian
How about breakfast for dinner? Omlettes, oatmeal, sausage and fruit.
I do this once and a while but breakfast sometimes is not thrir favorite meal.
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| Posted 9/26/13 11:11 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by nferrandi
Rottiserie chicken
steamer bag of veggies
90 second bag of brown rice
Omelet with veggies
Chicken noodle soup
Cut up carrots, cucumber and hummus or dressing
Fish sticks in the toaster oven
Thanks! These are some I will try.
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| Posted 9/26/13 11:12 PM |
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steph4777
**************
Member since 5/05 11726 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Do they eat leftovers? On the nights when you don't have activities just cook more than you need, so you have it for another night.
Trader Joe's has great meals that are easy to prepare when you don't have a whole lot of time.
Maybe also prepare a meal over the weekend and freeze. The night before but it fridge to thaw, when you get home from activity night put it in the oven. Not ideal, but while meal is in the oven I will have the boys shower. They come down and we'll eat dinner then they brush their teeth.
I also just get subway sandwiches for the boys. Or do PB&J or cereal, so they don't eat anything too heavy.
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| Posted 9/27/13 9:52 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by steph4777
Do they eat leftovers? On the nights when you don't have activities just cook more than you need, so you have it for another night.
Trader Joe's has great meals that are easy to prepare when you don't have a whole lot of time.
Maybe also prepare a meal over the weekend and freeze. The night before but it fridge to thaw, when you get home from activity night put it in the oven. Not ideal, but while meal is in the oven I will have the boys shower. They come down and we'll eat dinner then they brush their teeth.
I also just get subway sandwiches for the boys. Or do PB&J or cereal, so they don't eat anything too heavy.
I like to do meals but maybe this is what I have to do.
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| Posted 9/27/13 10:50 AM |
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adeline27
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 3121 total posts
Name:
Angela
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Really quick dinner meals for me are making tacos, quesadillas, pick up an already cooked rotisserie chicken at the market, sandwiches/soups, hamburgers, hotdogs, pre made salads, corn on the cob made earlier in the day. I also do have a crockpot that I use almost every day it's me set and forget dinner by a 11am I would prepare beef stew, lasagna, chichen & dumplings, soups, or cook a whole chicken. I can go on and it really is ideal to have in situations where time is limited.
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| Posted 9/27/13 11:16 AM |
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lcherian
He is the reason!
Member since 2/06 2512 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Bean and cheese quesadillas or burritos :)
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| Posted 9/27/13 11:49 AM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by lcherian
Bean and cheese quesadillas or burritos :)
Yup everything is prepared and ready ahead of time. I buy whole wheat tortillas and warm them up on the stove in a pan. I drain a can of black bean or use refried. Have a jar of salsa and sour cream. Chopped romaine, mash up avocado with a little S&P and garlic powder. Shredded cheese. Then we line everything up on the kitchen counter and my DDs make their own burrito.
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| Posted 9/27/13 1:39 PM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Ugh, we have been dealing with this too! Please tell me why religion and soccer for 6 yr olds has us getting home 6:30 even after 7 at night on a weekday!!! 
What I have been doing is the left over thing sometimes. Like I will make chicken cutlets for dinner the night before and then reheat it quick and maybe put it in a sandwich to change it up. Potatoes also reheat quick and still taste good - my kids love sweet potatoes. I will sometimes buy a Rotisserie chicken from whole foods and then I can just throw it on the stove quick with some veggies and make a stir fry. Also, whole foods has this great homemade gnocchi that cooks in like 2 minutes and I just add either sauce or a little bit of salt, butter and cheese.
Then, what I do is while the kids are eating the above, I chat with them while washing fresh fruits and veggies and then they eat this next.
Seems to be working thus far. If all else fails I pop in a frozen Annie's pizza and call it a day 
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| Posted 9/27/13 3:11 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
For several years now I do all, or most, of my cooking for the week on Sunday. It takes 2 hours for me to prepare all of my meals for the week, I only dirty up the kitchen by cooking one day a week. I will leave Sun-Tues meals in the fridge and freeze whatever we will eat Wed-Fri/Sat and defrost as I go.
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| Posted 9/27/13 3:32 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
I thought of some others. Baked potatoes can be done in the microwave. I usually put cut up left over grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and some melted cheese on them- easy, healthy stuffed potatoes. Grilled cheese with a side of veggies. Some other quick meals are seafood, if your kids eat that. You can marinate shrimp during the day and thread them on skewers. Turn the grill on when you get in, get the kids undressed and into the shower, while they're putting on their pjs you can throw the shrimp on the grill. They only need 3-4 minutes each side. My kids also like tilapia. I bake it in the oven for 15 minutes. Crab legs only are a few minutes. You just drop them in a pot of boiling water.
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| Posted 9/27/13 6:40 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH
For several years now I do all, or most, of my cooking for the week on Sunday. It takes 2 hours for me to prepare all of my meals for the week, I only dirty up the kitchen by cooking one day a week. I will leave Sun-Tues meals in the fridge and freeze whatever we will eat Wed-Fri/Sat and defrost as I go.
Can you give a list of your meals? Which ones are eaten sun-tues and which ones are frozen?
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| Posted 9/27/13 7:00 PM |
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by Eireann
The crockpot is your friend!
I second this, I put the food in when DD is in school and it's ready when we get home.
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| Posted 9/27/13 7:00 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by lcherian
Bean and cheese quesadillas or burritos :)
Would love to make that...seems a lot of quick thi gs include cheese. My DD is allergic to dairy so no cheese for us.
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| Posted 9/27/13 9:57 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by nferrandi
I thought of some others. Baked potatoes can be done in the microwave. I usually put cut up left over grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and some melted cheese on them- easy, healthy stuffed potatoes. Grilled cheese with a side of veggies. Some other quick meals are seafood, if your kids eat that. You can marinate shrimp during the day and thread them on skewers. Turn the grill on when you get in, get the kids undressed and into the shower, while they're putting on their pjs you can throw the shrimp on the grill. They only need 3-4 minutes each side. My kids also like tilapia. I bake it in the oven for 15 minutes. Crab legs only are a few minutes. You just drop them in a pot of boiling water.
Sounds delicious! Unfortuately we are shellfish and dairy free due to my DD's allergies.
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| Posted 9/27/13 10:01 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by nferrandi
I thought of some others. Baked potatoes can be done in the microwave. I usually put cut up left over grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and some melted cheese on them- easy, healthy stuffed potatoes. Grilled cheese with a side of veggies. Some other quick meals are seafood, if your kids eat that. You can marinate shrimp during the day and thread them on skewers. Turn the grill on when you get in, get the kids undressed and into the shower, while they're putting on their pjs you can throw the shrimp on the grill. They only need 3-4 minutes each side. My kids also like tilapia. I bake it in the oven for 15 minutes. Crab legs only are a few minutes. You just drop them in a pot of boiling water.
Sounds delicious! Unfortuately we are shellfish and dairy free due to my DD's allergies.
I'm sorry, I forgot about the dairy allergy when I was thinking of more ideas. The stuffed potato would still work, just minus the cheese. Another quick one is meatloaf. It takes a while to cook, but not nearly as long to reheat. Chicken cutlets always reheat well. Turkey burgers can be thrown on the grill while you wash up the kids. Falafels are easy too. You can buy them frozen in TJ, throw them in a pita with some lettuce, cucumbers and hummus. Stir fries are also really quick. Toss some chicken or steak into a wok, add some fresh or frozen veggies, soy sauce and seasoning and you're good to go. You can either make a quick fried rice (using a 90 second bag or pre cooked rice) or TJ also sells some frozen bags to go with it.
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| Posted 9/27/13 10:32 PM |
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luvmyReese
Hello Kitty
Member since 1/08 7542 total posts
Name:
Catt
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Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Cook chicken nuggets while showering kids. Toss veggies in microwave while you chop a salad. Pre cook a box of pasta & leave in fridge. Also you could throw a pizza on & shower kids or do some homework or even read a book while it cooks.
On soccer nights I cook dinner early, cover it on stove & eat it when we get home.
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| Posted 9/28/13 12:08 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Mine eat grilled chicken salads in the backseat. That way when we get home....right up to the bath.
I pack soup in their thermos...they eat that in car.
Some nights I will feed them before we leave and then bring a banana or yogurt in car.
Or we picnic out when pravtice is done. I just need them ged before I enter front door
Message edited 9/28/2013 6:58:52 AM.
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| Posted 9/28/13 6:55 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
Thank you!!!! These ideas are all very helpful!
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| Posted 9/28/13 8:14 AM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need really quick dinner ideas for later activities...
I love when we have leftover taco meet...I throw it on a tortilla and into the microwave. You don't have to put cheese on - you can add tomato and avocado.
Last night we did turkey on tortillas.
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| Posted 9/28/13 8:20 AM |
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