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Original poster

What time do your kids have dinner (evening meal)?

102 replies

EmM1189 · 23/02/2023 16:39

If you have kids 2-10yrs old, what time do you feed them in the evening?

Someone i follow on Instagram had posted a photo of her child eating dinner at 4:30pm… to me that seems really early?

Trying to figure out if i’m the odd one out here!

OP posts:
Catoneverychair · 23/02/2023 21:34

The 11 year old: around 5/6, the 13 year old: 5/6, then at 8, at 9 and sometimes 10 pm.

Meandfour · 23/02/2023 21:36

5pm on non club nights
snack at 4pm & dinner when home on club nights

JimBobbin · 23/02/2023 21:40

@LizzieBrooks I don't know, we just found a 5pm dinner worked and stuck to it. Good luck.

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Families
Ricco12 · 23/02/2023 21:41

6 and 8

Between 4.30 and 5.30pm

JennyDarlingRIP · 23/02/2023 21:43

Between 5&5:30 4 year old, about 4:45 if eating at nursery because it takes some longer to eat (picked up at 5:30 tonight and some children still eating, DS long finished)

Girasoli · 23/02/2023 21:54

Between 6-7.30, they both have tea/snack at after school club and nursery though.

LadyJ2023 · 23/02/2023 22:00

4.30 got 3 under 2s

girlmumma2019 · 23/02/2023 22:17

Have one 3yo and we aim for dinner about 5/5.30pm

ConkerBonkers · 23/02/2023 22:23

If there is a club then 4, but usually about 5, maybe 5:30-6 on a weekend. Same as pp saves the kiddo eating snacks and leaving most of their tea.. always has a pudding, usually a couple of biscuits, a bit later though at 6 or 6:30. I prefer it this way too, I would be starving hungry if I ate at 8 or so. However, I also have a couple of biscuits or some chocolate, and a hot drink later on, but for me that is at about 9.

GHxx · 23/02/2023 22:24

I aim for about 5.30 for my 18 month old, I’ll usually just eat at the same time. It can end up towards 6/6.30 if it’s taking a while to make but I like to start getting him into the bath about 6.30 so feel like his dinner should have a chance to settle before he’s going to bed

Logicalreasoning · 23/02/2023 22:27

4.30/4.45 ....DS is autistic and has his set routine, if I don’t have dinner ready between these times he comes stomping out of the room... he likes everything in order.

mamaduckbone · 23/02/2023 22:30

Mine are older now but we always ate together at around 6. They would have a snack when they got home from school.

Ceilingplaits · 23/02/2023 22:55

10 year old, I aim at 6.30, but it's usually around 7. In the summer it can be later because we'll be out in a park after school for as long as possible, sometimes just a picnic dinner in the park or chips on the way home.

KeepSmiling89 · 23/03/2023 16:34

I have my dinner/tea/evening meal when I get home from work so about 5.30pm.
When I was younger, I had it when I got home from school - so around 4/4.30 or so.
We would usually have a bit of supper later at night though (some toast, fruit chopped up on a plate etc).

I've got a 1.5 year old now and she eats when I eat. Her bathtime and bedtime routine starts at 7pm so 6/6.30pm is too late for her to be eating her main meal.

QueenBee1234 · 23/03/2023 17:01

Even when the kids were little I didn't pick them up from child care until after 5pm. They would eat dinner (tea!) With us around 6.30pm.
There were not enough hours in the day to feed anyone any earlier!

whiteonesugar · 23/03/2023 17:03

Between 5.30 and 6.30 depends on what day it is, whether we're eating together or not. 2 DC almost 4 and 8

Lemonandorange · 23/03/2023 17:03

22 month old and 4 year old both eat around 1600

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 23/03/2023 17:08

It varies depending on school/ work / activities but usually around 5.30pm.

twinkleto · 23/03/2023 17:12

4:30pm for dinner.

Supper at 7pm.

Bed 7:15pm.

EverySporkIsSacred · 23/03/2023 17:25

When I was (much) younger I remember my Dad coming home to tea on the table at 5pm and we all ate together as a family (and yes, I am Northern, and still call it tea rather than dinner).When I had my own kids, we stuck to the 5pm teatime until my teenagers pointed out it was old fashioned, so we moved it a whole half an hour to 5.30.
The teens are adults and left home now, and think we're ridiculous eating so "early".

Merlinsbeard83 · 23/03/2023 18:26

Anytime between 4.30 and 6 depending on after school clubs . Otherwise kids just want snacks lots as hungry . So works better. I add plenty of vegetables to fill them up .

Sceptre86 · 23/03/2023 18:48

My three are 18 months, 5 and 6. They eat at 5pm normally. They are in bed by 8pm. I offer a glass of milk or toast before they brush teeth because they aren't great at eating lunch at school.

YukoandHiro · 23/03/2023 19:15

@EverySporkIsSacred I do think it's odd for adults to eat any earlier than 6.30 tbh.

My DC (5 and 2) have their tea at 5-5.30 usually and whenever I eat with them if DH is at work and on a late shift (a couple of times a week) I'm always famished and raiding the fridge by 9pm

EverySporkIsSacred · 23/03/2023 19:23

@YukoandHiro it probably is odd TBF. Partly explained by wanting to eat meals as a family (we still have one child at home), partly I'm autistic and as PPs have said it's about routine (I suspect my mum was also autistic, I blame her, LOL). We also have a snack later.

Springintoabetterlife · 23/03/2023 19:25

5 except Thursday which is 4.15 as it’s swimming night.