[jobo77]

I have been back at work p/t now for nearly a year and from next week will be upping the ante and doing 3 days a week. We have long days - leave home around 715am and then with traffic, how far my work is from home etc, don't get home until sometime between 5-530pm. DH does the same hours as me often travelling part way in our 1 car on those days.
I need to come up with some easy dinner ideas that ideally just involve reheating as the kids are usually at our heels for dinner the minute we walk in the door, despite eating snacks (apple, crackers or the like) in the car after pick up. Not to mention the afternoon tea they get at daycare right before I pick them up...
What do other working parents do for dinners? They get full hot food at daycare each day and I must confess to feeding them things like scrambled eggs and toast, baked beans or a sandwich in the past because of this but I probably need to get a bit more organised! I think I'm feeling a bit daunted by the 3 days although it was my choice to do it.
Thanks

[knittingkitten]

I think what you're feeding them at night is fine if they get a full lunch at daycare.

We do toasted cheese or snack plates with cucumber, cheese, cherry tomatoes etc. Or I defrost the spaghetti bolognese portions while I cook the pasta.

This post has been edited by knittingkitten: 01/01/2013, 08:39 PM

[SeaPrincess]

No idea, but I'm returning to work in 2 weeks time, 3 days a week, and am wondering exactly the same thing. I usually have dinner on the table for the children earlier than I will even be home.

[codygirl]

Absolutely nothing wrong with scrambled eggs or baked beans .

I keep pasta sauce in the freezer for those kinds of nights, also stir fries/ fried rice - they can munch on the veges as you cut them up (carrot sticks etc).

Double cook batches of risottos etc in winter and there is always salads in summer.

And when all else fails - omelettes!!!

Good luck going back 3 days, it is crazy but it seems that much busier, I go with planning and letting your standards slip .

[Chardonnay Buffa...]

I am in the same boat - 3 long days a week - my DH is on 12hr rotating shifts so it's up to me to feed the children.
I do a big freezer cook up every few weeks. It includes - zucchini slice, banana pikelets (minus any sugar), mash potato and sausage, and any random casserole I can come up with.

On day care days, just microwave and serve. On the days I'm home, I'll cook something for all of us. Oh and apricot chicken risotto defrosts really nicely too.

I must say that on day care days, the children get defrosted 'slops' so to say, and I will cook a separate meal for us later once they're in bed. Works better when you're exhausted!

[liveworkplay]

The 5 of us have to be out the house by 715 and, on a good night, are back by 530pm. At that time I find it easy to chuck on some steamed veg and some type of protein(chicken kebabs are a favorite). Takes less then 20 minutes but if you want it quicker, have the veg cut up ready to chuck in.

Our horror night is not getting home until 730pm. That is "cheese toasties or egg on toast" night

If I'm organised (rarely) I'll make a lasagna, spag bog or quiche.

ETA: I work 4 days a week, DH 5 days.

This post has been edited by liveworkplay: 01/01/2013, 08:44 PM

[Lyn86]

What about quiche/frittata?
Or cooking on the weekend then just warming it up? (Lasagne, spaghetti Bol, pasta bake).
Or have left overs one night, something easy the next (scrambled eggs, beans on toast), then a proper meal the third while you ease into it.

[Super Cat]

I don't have any full meal ideas but I find those pre packed, throw in the microwave steamed vegetables a blessing on nights like that. I throw them in an omelette or serve them with sausages.

Our other quick meal is sausage and salad wraps or chicken and salad wraps. The kids love them.

[Silvermist~]

I have been working 3 days a week for a couple of months and now am about to start 4 days.

I have a "food bank" in the freezer of meals I have prepared for work days. Mostly curries, pasta sauces and casseroles and then I just cook rice or pasta to go with it. I use my slow cooker a lot too so dinner is ready as soon as we walk in the door.
I also have a night where we have eggs or left overs.
My 3 year old has a hot meal at day care (sent by me though) but my 5 year old is at school and has a cut lunch, which isn't always eaten so I like her to have a good square meal of an evening.

The kids are starving hungry as soon as we get home so are usually eating apples and strawberries while I prepare dinner.

[Raisinette]

Chardonnay, how does the frozen mash potato turn out? I have thought of doing this as the kids love it but sometimes I can't be bothered waiting for the potatoes to boil on a crazy night?

Do you eat it yourself or just the kids? Hmmm I could do that with sweet potato and pumpkin too.