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Original poster

Dinner straight after school?

20 replies

mummybearah · 28/04/2023 17:12

Bit of a mundane topic but what do we think about giving our kids dinner rather than a snack as soon as they get in? Then a snack later.

I know I can do whatever works for us but just wondering if anyone else does this?

i ask as my 2 are a bit on the tubby side and I’m thinking this may be a healthier way to do things.. we’ve literally cut out junk food and it’s not really helping. Thoughts please!

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 28/04/2023 17:15

What do they snack on ? I don't think a small snack after school makes kids "tubby".

Original poster

mummybearah · 28/04/2023 17:18

Well this is it. They are ravenous after school and just eat and eat. It is fruits, yogurts, crackers cheese which I don’t think is unhealthy but it is the quantity. I’ve tried to explain that they must think with their tummies and not their heads but not sure they have grasped that yet

OP posts:

wrinkleintime · 28/04/2023 17:20

I don't know if it will make much difference which order you do things in, as if they are used to a lot of snacks they'll probably still want them. Can't you just limit snacks to one each per evening?

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toomuchlaundry · 28/04/2023 17:22

How old?

Are they mistaking being thirsty for hunger?

Cakencookieobsessed · 28/04/2023 17:22

I do sometimes but they always need toast or a snack before bed. If you think it's too early, you could maybe just bring it forward by an hour.

Jellytotsburnmytongue · 28/04/2023 17:25

I give my son his dinner as soon as he gets home as he's usually hungry. He has some toast or cereal later on for supper.

lrwe · 28/04/2023 17:27

The days I do it I find it works really well.

They eat a proper, generally nutritious, meal which fills them up. Then they go out and play/run round/do whatever activity. And then they have something small before bed - weetabix, toast and peanut butter etc

I find it cuts down on the snacks they eat and increases the amount of dinner they eat, so not sure in terms of calories but at least it's coming from a food group other than crackers.

Mafelicent · 28/04/2023 17:32

I used to do exactly this when mine were younger. Fruit and veg laid out nicely on the table ready for when they got back from school, tea as soon as I could get it heated up, and then toast/cereal etc before bed if needed.

It worked really well for us, but I've gone up to full time at work now, and I can't do any meal prep during the day. So we're back to crisps and biscuits after school, and then no one much wanting their tea 🤦‍♀️

Original poster

mummybearah · 28/04/2023 21:00

toomuchlaundry · 28/04/2023 17:22

How old?

Are they mistaking being thirsty for hunger?

Your responses have been so helpful!

They are 9 and 10. I do think this to some extent.

I’ve tried limiting snack but it doesn’t work. They literally grab what they want when I’m not looking, then I genuinely feel like I’m starving them. The 9 year old had 4 bananas after dinner! And their dinners are bigger than mine.

i actually don’t know where I’m going wrong

OP posts:

wetpebbles · 28/04/2023 21:07

Yes mine have dinner straight after school and they like a snack (carrot sticks, cucumber , grapes, apples etc) later

Whyishewearingasombero · 28/04/2023 21:19

Jellytotsburnmytongue · 28/04/2023 17:25

I give my son his dinner as soon as he gets home as he's usually hungry. He has some toast or cereal later on for supper.

This is what we do!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 28/04/2023 21:21

I used the meet D's with a snack to eat in the way home from school, we had a half an hour walk ,then we used to eat at 5pm.

Getagripgertie · 28/04/2023 21:29

I do this. I always felt weird about giving them dinner at 4:30pm but it was the best routine for us. Then they have a snack around 7pm.

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 28/04/2023 21:35

The kids I've nannied for I've always taken straight to the playground after school. It helps to decompress and give them some active time (it's so not natural for kids to be sitting at a table for hours every day!) An hour at the playground after school will push dinner to a more 'normal' time, give them some exercise and prevent them from raiding the fridge and cupboards for more and more snacks. Maybe take something healthy like air popped corn or oatcakes for them to have there if they're really desperately hungry, but I wouldn't start making dinner til 4:30 at least or they'll feel the need for a big supper before bed which won't help with their weight.

CC4712 · 28/04/2023 21:35

I agree that thirst is very often confused with hunger- even in adults.

I'd try giving a large drink of water, or very dilute squash, en-route from school. This might help reduce the ravenous eating once home.

Its really for you to choose/guide what they are eating. Cheese and crackers isn't the best if they are clinically overweight. What about hummus with carrot, celery and pepper sticks?

4 bananas after dinner! 😱Whilst fruit in moderation is good- that is a ridiculous amount in 1 sitting for a child!

SleepingStandingUp · 28/04/2023 21:36

mummybearah · 28/04/2023 21:00

Your responses have been so helpful!

They are 9 and 10. I do think this to some extent.

i actually don’t know where I’m going wrong

Show quote history

So you need to move snacks to somewhere they can't reach, be that a higher shelf or a different room.

I'd give them a snack AND A DRINK on the way home, then tell them they have to wait until dinner is ready, give them dinner early, make sure there's a good balance of protein and carbs, and a drink.
Pudding after they've cleared their plates.

Then if they're still hungry perhaps a more filling drink like milk or hot chocolate, and toast / couple of biscuits.

Def make sure they're getting enough liquid.

Do you know how tall / heavy they are?

BunsenBurnerBaby · 28/04/2023 21:41

We eat a meal as soon as possible when we get in. The time varies depending what is going on. It works better for me too: I am starving at 4:30. I prefer to eat a meal, and it increases the chance of kids getting more nutritious food in them too.

TakeMe2Insanity · 28/04/2023 21:46

My life improved for the better once I started giving my DC dinner as soon as they got in. Snack consumption and grumpiness reduced significantly. We do the same as previous poster, toast or cereal if hungry before bed.

morechocolateneededtoday · 28/04/2023 21:51

Slightly younger kids and not as big appetite as you are describing but dinner as soon as get home from school works for us. Nutritious and filling meal as soon as we come home because they often haven’t had the most balanced meal at school. Then have combination of homework, activities and playing for rest of the evening. If they ask for a snack later, it’s always given but it’s not always and not as much as they would eat straight from school.

I didn’t have dinner ready today and they managed to help themselves to a bowl of cereal each followed by a plate of fruit before dinner - they would not have managed both after dinner if I had been more organised

whatthebejesus · 28/04/2023 22:11

I make a pan of soup each week - courgette this week! - and the kids have a cup or small bowl of soup after school with a drink. Sometimes a small sandwich roll if it's a cup of soup. Then we have dinner later.

They could easily eat 5-6 crackers with cheese and a load of fruit but whilst some of that is ok - every day it's a lot of sugar and not particularly filling

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