Quick after school meal ideas?

[MintIceLolly]

DD is in year 1 so going back to school.

She's univeral FSM but will only be given either a sandwich or a wrap at school. She's full time 8.40am-3pm Mon - Thur, and half day Friday (8.40am-12pm).

So I need quick after school meal ideas? I don't mind if I have to make them while she's at school and serve them later but nothing that can needs to be left on while I'm out as I have anxiety around the oven being left on as is. I want filling meals as she'll be starving, she usually has fruit at school at breaktime which isn't being offered (and we're not allowed to send in), plus she'd usually have either a main meal or even on days she has the sandwich option she gets a sandwich/wrap, yogurt, fruit and a biscuit but school are literally offering just a sandwich or a wrap. No food from home allowed.

Ideas please?

I would give her a snack when she gets home at 3pm - toasted crumpets, toasted sandwich, houmous and veg, bowl of porridge etc and then dinner as normal with the family later? I can’t see that she’s going to want to eat a proper dinner in the middle of the afternoon ?

dinner as normal with the family later?

It's just me and her at home. During lockdown we've been eating our main meal about 12-1pm, then having a picnic tea about 4pm, then if still hungry toast about 6pm but can't do that if she's at school. She'll need to be in bed no later than 7.30 once school restarts

Should add the stuff we're eating now won't be filling enough for her after hardly any food all day, we're eating soups or salads or similar at lunchtime.

Sorry, I'm confused. Are you wanting to change your main meal now to the evening? Are you looking for meal ideas for you both, or just a snack for her prior to an evening meal?

• frittata. Basically eggs and any leftover veg you have. Maybe cheese and/or onion if you have any. Bake and can be eaten hot or cold with a salad. or sliced into fingers if just eating as a snack
• peanut butter in celery boats
• baked sweet and regular potatoes cut into halves. Serve with options for the top- cheese, coldslaw etc.
• wraps
• filled pittas

main meal now to the evening? Are you looking for meal ideas for you both, or just a snack for her prior to an evening meal?

I want to change DDs meal to the evening, I'll have time in the day to eat as I'm still furloughed and I find eating my main meal at lunchtime easier. But I also need filling meal ideas as what we're currently eating won't be enough when she's gone from 8.40am until 3pm on just a sandwich

She'll be fine you know. Just give her a larger breakfast to start with until she gets used to being back.

I would put a banana and yoghurt in her bag for her break to fill her up. Flapjacks are so easy too

Salmon, new potatoes & veg
Simple chicken curry with veg and naan or rice
Chicken strips wrapped in Parma ham with jacket potatoes
Pesto pasta & garlic bread
Meatballs & spaghetti

Other ideas- pasta and pesto
Noodles
Spagetti on toast
Jacket potato and beans

I would put a banana and yoghurt in her bag for her break to fill her up. Flapjacks are so easy too

We're not allowed to send anything in from home apart from a clear plastic bottle. We're not sending in any food or money or any bags or lunchboxes.

Oh I understand. They are so hungry after school aren't they. Mine are certainly not as hungry or eat much these days as they used to

@Littleshortcake

Oh I understand. They are so hungry after school aren't they. Mine are certainly not as hungry or eat much these days as they used to

Usually she's fine because even when she takes the packed lunch option at school (rarely but for school trips she has no choice) they provide sandwich/wrap, yogurt, fruit, biscuit and a drink which is enough to keep her going but she's just going to be getting a sandwich or wrap, nothing else.

You could make baked potatoes in advance then reheat them in the microwave? Mine love them with cheese and beans, or tuna mayo.

We also do a dish which is popular in HK, macaroni boiled in chicken broth, with peas, spring onions and some meat such as ham or frankfurters. It's like soup macaroni. My ds calls it "sick people's soup", as it's what I give him when he's recovering from illness!

@Zhx3

You could make baked potatoes in advance then reheat them in the microwave? Mine love them with cheese and beans, or tuna mayo.

We also do a dish which is popular in HK, macaroni boiled in chicken broth, with peas, spring onions and some meat such as ham or frankfurters. It's like soup macaroni. My ds calls it "sick people's soup", as it's what I give him when he's recovering from illness!

Baked potatoes always go down well I never thought of those thank you!

Scrambled eggs on toast (with some chopped veg in if that's manageable)

Beans on toast

Pesto pasta, again with added veg if possible - this one you can make earlier and reheat

Jamie Oliver has a great pancake recipe

One cup of flour
One cup of milk
One egg

You could make the batter and refrigerate. With a banana it would be really filling and kids love them. We make them regularly here.

Warm up an extra portion of whatever you had at lunchtime, for when she gets in.

Then a snack like you usually do of toast or picnic tea before bed.

I'm just wondering if making meals like macaroni cheese, spag bol', lasagne, shepherd's pie, where there's left overs for the following day could be a help?

Spaghetti carbonara is easy. Cool the spaghetti, drain and then add the mixed up egg and Parmesan. The heat of the pan and the spaghetti will cook the egg. Sometimes I add some parsley to taste. For DS, I stir in chopped up cooked cocktail sausages or chopped up ham.

@mbosnz

I'm just wondering if making meals like macaroni cheese, spag bol', lasagne, shepherd's pie, where there's left overs for the following day could be a help?

I'm worried that a big meal might be too much especially as it's really hot here but I will try her with that sort of stuff as well.

Quiche and salad, tuna pasta salad, boiled eggs and soldiers, pick plates (mine have a selection of toast or bread and butter, cheese, ham/smoked salmon, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks, for example?

My son often has a toasted panini or pancakes straight after school then we eat together as a family around 6 .30. He's still hungry enough for that!

If your main meal is at lunchtime surely you just save her a portion? Some other ideas are;
Omelette and veg / salad
Quiche and baked beans or veg
Tuna pasta bake
Fish and chips
Chicken and veg stir fry.

Fritata
Falafel and pita with salad
Cous cous with chopped veg and cooked chicken pieces
Stir fry