When do your kids have their main meal?

Janepig

Lalaladybird wrote: »

We always have a smallish lunch (sandwich/soup etc, packed lunch for ds at school and husband) and our main meal at teatime (5pm (husband works early shifts)). We all eat together but the youngest 2 are really tired and moany and not very hungry by then, and then it is the homework/bath/bedtime rush after that!

I was thinking it might be a good idea to feed the children earlier at 4pm so the evening isn't such a rush and they are not so tired and might eat more. However this would mean they don't eat with us (me and husband).

How are mealtimes done in your house?

My two do their homework as soon as they get home. DS(7) had homework today, so he sat at the table and took about ten minutes to do it, then had a glass of milk and some bickies when he'd finished. Sometimes they have a little moan, but they both know that it's much better to get the homework out of the way so it's not hanging over their heads for the rest of the evening. Maybe you could try this then it's not so much of a rush after their food.

My two also don't bath/shower every night, there's no need.

Jx

Gillyx

Anytime between 5.30-6.30, we all sit together, it was something we always done as children so it's something I'd like to do with mine.

I'm a SAHM so we eat Breakfast and Lunch together too. He is 21 months.

meritaten

my OH worked shifts - so the kids (and sometimes myself) ate early. I didn't do separate meals unless I had something planned the kids didn't like. yes they came home from school hungry as wolves! so supper for them was around 4.00 - 4.30 and if still hungry before bed then cereal was the usual snack.
OHs and my meal was then 'warmed up' (no microwave in those days). we didn't mind and sometimes when I worked evenings OH warmed up his own meal. (not a big deal these days - but, my mum was absolutely disgusted with me not being there to warm it up and hand him the salt and pepper!).
I would say if the kids are hungry and want a hearty meal after school, and your OH doesn't mind 'Dinged' meals - and you all eat together whenever possible - do what works for YOUR family!

onlyroz

We all eat together at 6:30-7pm. I think a family mealtime is important.

notanewuser

Ever since weaning we've eaten dinner with DD. She's 3 and dinner tends to be around 7:30pm nowadays.

She's a real grazer, so I try to stop her eating after about 4pm so that she'll eat a decent dinner.

tinkerbell28

I used to say 6-7 so we'd all eat together. But fact is for a lot of young kids it's too late.

So we eat later now and feed youngest by 5 latest. We have an early weekend meal sat/sun for all of us when there's no time restraints. So no work/clubs/school/homework.

Sequeena

My son eats between 5-6pm. I join him if I'm hungry but I sit with him whilst he eats.

mincepiemonster

We all eat at 6pm - 6.30pm, DD (she was 2 last week) is in bed for 7.30pm. We play quietly (no TV allowed on) for the half-hour before tea, and then sing songs or read a story while daddy does the washing up. I'm a SAHM so we have breakfast and lunch together too.

One night a week DD has beans on toast / scrambled egg on toast or similar and we have a pizza or Chinese, although we do sit up at the table with her and have a cuppa.

DD always eats a good meal but not sure if it will have to change once she drops her nap :eek: as she might be more tired. Still having 2 hours ish every day atm so will cross that bridge when we come to it!

pollypenny

We always ate together, between 5.30 and 6.30 depending what was on. Earlier when they were little and when DS had training.

liney

I aim for us to eat at 6pm. DS9 has a snack at afterschool club or when he gets home at 3.30pm; something like a cereal bar or a banana, and then it's a cooked dinner at 6pm. We all have packed lunches, except for Fridays when he has a school dinner.

When DS was younger we still ate at the same time, but he has always had an after school snack, or he'd be starved considering that school dinners at eaten from 12 - 12.30 generally. It's along time for a little person to wait.

I'd also second getting the homework done as soon as they come in. Perhaps you could be preparing a snack while they do their homework as an incentive to get it done.