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Original poster

If your child eats a coooked lunch at school, what do you give for tea??

25 replies

naswm · 09/09/2006 07:14

I am new to this game. DS1 started reception this week. He gets a cooked lunch every day, and usually eats well, so I think will be getting a good meal.

So, what do I give him in the evenings when he gets home??? One day this week I gave him cheese on toast and a yoghurt, which he seemed fine with - last night he had rice, chicken and veg - which he also ate with gusto.

I know it sounds silly, but I dont know whether I need to be giving him a meal or a snack type meal. I dont want to leave it and see what he fancies, as I need to plan because of DS2

Somoeone sort out a new school mum please!!!!! TIA

OP posts:
auntymandy · 09/09/2006 07:18

I would do a meal if you usually do and see how he goes. If you find he is leaving loads he is obviously full so reduce portions or give him a snack. I dont think school meals are huge although I know they are improving. Plus he will eat at 12 and have a play time after lunch and one in the afternoon, plenty of time to run it off!

BarefootJasnem · 09/09/2006 07:21

I do a meal which my dd always eats. I also have another dd who has a packed lunch, a baby and a dp to feed so it works for us. Try with regular meals and reduce if you need to after a few weeks

Original poster
naswm · 09/09/2006 07:26

thanks, that is helpful. I think perhaps I shall cook a meal then. (I havent had a usual routine before, the DSs have either had their main meal at lunchtime or teatime depending on what we have been doing that day. I mostly eat with them whenever they eat, as my H isnt home in the evenings during the week, so I dont cook for him).

Ok next question then, lol... tips for quick, simple teas????

OP posts:
threebob · 09/09/2006 07:27

I would give him tea - I can't eat gluten and so have 2 normal meat and veg meals a day. I have noticed I have so much more energy - though this could be due to not eating gluten rather than the proper meals!

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 07:33

I do things in the slow cooker so its ready when they/we want to eat. chicken loads of veg pots etc. Can get it ready in morning then forget about tea! Bolognaise, chilli all quick easy teas.
Pizza

Original poster
naswm · 09/09/2006 07:34

oo aunty mandy - tell me about your slow cooker - I have been thinking about gettign one. Is it really good???

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 09/09/2006 07:47

Naswm, do you know what he is getting at school exactly? Several of the schools round here used to regularly serve spaghetti hoops as a vegetable, plus my friend's child who was vegetarian found that there was often only a cheese sandwich or salad available for him. If it was that sort of meal, I would cook a proper dinner for the evening too. If you are cooking for yourself and dp why not just make some for him as well (or save some from the previous night if he has his tea earlier?)

Otherwise I would think a large sandwich, or eggs on toast, beans on toast, omelette, pitta with filling, bowl of soup etc would be just fine.

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 07:50

I love my slow cooker. I have even cooked a whole chicken in it and a bcon joint both really yummy.
Lots of stew type meals and am going to experiment with rice dishes. Soups too made a lovely lentil and tomato one the other day.

Toady · 09/09/2006 07:51

Here is some good slow cooker recipes from a forum on martins money saving tips

FrannyandZooey · 09/09/2006 07:53

Does slow cooking affect the nutrient content of the food at all? I have a friend who swears by it and it does sound so cunning and convenient, but I always wonder if the veg has had all the vitamins boiled out of it by sitting there bubbling all day?

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 07:55

all the goodness is in the gravy though surely? it sure tastes good!

look here

notagrannyyet · 09/09/2006 07:55

Mine are 13, 11 & 9 now and all have a cooked meal at school.
I try to do a cooked meal in the evening as well so we can all eat together but now they're older and doing things at different times in the evening it's not always possible.
In term time we usually end up having snack type teas at times to suit the individual on 2 nights per week. Things like jacket spuds, something on toast,or a pizza. The 13 year old usually sorts himself out and seems to be eating constantly throughout the evening at the moment. I still cook a proper meal on the other 3 evenings and we're back to a proper Sunday lunch now junior cricket as finished.

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 07:58

might make a good tea!!
how many eggs!!!!!

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 08:00

loving the slow cookere recipe link...lasagne in a slow cooker..never!!!

Steppy1 · 09/09/2006 08:06

DS is 5 1/2 and still likes to have a proper meal in the evening too !! Loves things like organic sausage & mash or a roast dinner or pasta with lots of veg...he always finishes up every last bit...then has a pud too...skinny lanky thing too he is !!!!!

KTeepee · 09/09/2006 08:08

Definitely give a proper meal. Not being from the UK I naively thought school dinners were proper dinners and only a snack would be needed in the evening - but in reality the portions are usually so small they are starving when they get home.

FrannyandZooey · 09/09/2006 08:09

I think the water soluble vitamins would be fine AuntyMandy because as you say, you will be eating the gravy, but some vitamins are affected by heat, so I am not sure if pressure cooking might mean you lose nutrients.

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 08:13

we are talking slow cooking, but I always thought pressure cooking was good for keeping in nutients!

Does anyone give their kids unhealthy food on here..ever or are you all really good health concious mummies?

schneebly · 09/09/2006 08:16

My kids get fish fingers and even wet ham sometimes but they do also eat a lot of fresh, homecooked food too!

FrannyandZooey · 09/09/2006 08:17

I just don't know whether it does affect the nutrients or not AM, that's why I asked. I hoped somebody would know.

auntymandy · 09/09/2006 08:41

mine had salmon fish fingers the other day!! Went down a treat. They have a good mix..always have quick easy stuff in just incase I am running late or dont feel like cooking, but also eat healthy too.

Misspiggy · 09/09/2006 08:57

I always find that my DSs need another dinner when they've had school lunches. DS1 is at 6th Form and the food there is rubbish (chips, pizza etc - so much for Jamie Oliver!) so I always do him a "proper" dinner when he's eaten there at lunchtime and DS2 (10 years old and the food at his primary is v good with generous portions) gets quite offended if I suggest he has a snack instead of dinner, think he feels left out!

singersgirl · 09/09/2006 10:32

They've just got in new caterers at the DSs' school after lots of fundraising for a new kitchen last term. So the food is supposed to be balanced and fresh and healthy. But I asked DS2 (5) what he had for lunch yesterday and he said "Spaghetti and chips and jelly". On further questioning, there was a sauce with the spaghetti ("but it did not taste nice") and green beans.

But I know he won't be eating a full range of fruit and vegetables, so I'm still doing an evening meal. He's not going to choose an apple if he can have jelly (though it might be made with fruit juice - I hope so, coz they never have jelly here!) DS1 still has packed lunches because of food intolerances.

Original poster
naswm · 11/09/2006 12:10

just caugght up on all this. thanks eveyone. think I will cook a meal after all. he certainly ate it when I did on Friday! And means I can be more felixible with DS2 if I dont have to cook for him at lunchtimes. thanks eveyone!

OP posts:
Enid · 11/09/2006 12:16

dd2 has a cooked lunch at nursery but dd1 has a packed lunch at school so I cook a hot meal every evening

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