Mumsnet Talk

Maybe not the usual topic in this area, but I reckon you folks are the experts. For a short while (2 half terms), dd1 is going to have a manic monday. She will be at school until 5 and then Brownies 5:30-7. She has loads of energy so I think can cope, but also a big appetite, and I just don't know what to do re food. I will be collecting her by car, as have to pick up dd2 from Rainbows at 5:15. She can have a 'small snack' while at school, anything else I will need to feed her in the 10 min car journey. Obviously if it gets too much for her something willl have to give, etc. What do you do about food?

If they need a hot meal I make hot dogs. Big roll with 2 sausages in and wrap it up in tinfoil to keep it warm. Make sure you have a drink though otherwise they get very thirsty.

I make a packed supper, in the same way you would do a packed lunch, and have it in the car ready to be eaten whilst driving. As DeWe says a drink is very important and I include a treat which is usually Soreen. My DD has this every Wednesday which is the manic day for us DS at Beavers 5.30 to 6.30 and DD at Swimming Club (20 minute drive from Beavers) at 6.

Invest in a food flask. I will quite often warm something up and ds eats it in the car on the way to activities.

Oh I think she would like the hot dog idea, and I had been wondering about a food flask, but they seem quite pricey (3 children - they'll all want one) and some mixed reviews, but could get it for dd1 and see if it is worth it. I was wondering about putting her down for school lunch, then giving her a packed lunch too. I wouldn't have thought about a drink though.

Give her hot dinners at school that day and then a packed tea for in the car on the way.
I got a selection of flasks from tk maxx that are really good and keep the food hot without spilling.

My DD trains for 3 1/2 hour sessions after school several nights a week, and I live quite a way from the gym, so our solution is:

* Hot school dinner at lunch
* Cold packed snack for after school. This is usually something like a wrap, cheese and biscuits, some crisps, fruit and something sweet (like a chocolate coin).
* Then she'll have a second hot meal for when she finishes gym. This is at 7:30 - 8pm, and she usually comes out famished. Like others, we have bought a hot food flask, and I find if I cook it at 2pm it'll still be hot by 8pm. I do things like pasta, fish and rice in a cheese sauce, sausage hash browns and beans, chilli etc.

The food flask we use is:

foodflask

We chose this one (after trying out several others) because it does actually keep the food warm for hours, and it holds a lot more than the thermos ones (which are also good.

My DD has hot lunches at school then a cold packed dinner for after school activities that she eats in car and whilst waiting for activities to start so eg sandwiches, fruit, small treat packet eg mini choc fingers, cherry tomatoes... Nothing messy though.

Food flasks are genius. Dd can have soup and a roll or pasta or something.
In fairness her food needs to be substantial because her manic Monday is
Lunch 12:00
Gym immediately after school 4:00 until 6:00
Swimming for club 6:30 until 8:30

I don't like to give her a meal when we get home at 9:00 so it has to be between 6:00 and 6:30.

Lakeland do good one with a spoon in the lid.

Yep we do school dinners for busy dinners then cold packed lunch in car en route to sports clubs

Ahhh good thread.

DS is four and only has one after school activity. But it's 4-5pm. We get into the car after school pick up at 3.30pm, then it's a 15 minute drive to gym, then by the time we've parked, signed in and he's changed it's 4pm. After the class it's get dressed (hopefully straight to the car in the summer) then home in the rush hour traffic for 5.30pm and dinner. All the way to gym, and all the way home again, he's complaining that he's hungry.

So, I think I'm going to up the after school snack (cereal bar, fruit and drink) to a cold packed lunch, and see how it goes. If he doesn't eat his dinner then so be it. I don't think he's old enough to cope with eating pasta or hot dogs in the car unsupervised yet. Sandwiches definitely. I might think about doing a substantial pudding like apple crumble for supper when he gets home.

He does have a hot lunch at school.

So what sort of things do you all do for packed suppers? Other than soup, pasta, and hot dogs?