Need ideas on quick, filling after school meals to get us through next few weeks

[banyan]

DS starts school this week. He is having packed lunches during the day (they recommend this at the start until they are more familiar with dinners environment when I'll switch him over) so will be having a sandwich, yoghurt etc at lunch and need a big meal at dinner.

On top of this, I start a freelance contract at the same time for a month which means DD will be at nursery full time. She will have a big main meal at lunch and snack at about 4pm. She needs something in the evening but not a big meal.

I will be working from home until school run and then in the evenings. I won't have time to do any food preparation other than in the 10 mins before they start screaming at me or trying to kill each other. I will be tired and they will be so meals need to be planned in advance and very easy.

Dinners need to be a) quick, b) healthy, c) varied (not just pasta and pesto) and d) satisfy need for big meal for DS and small meal for DD. I will try to have some casseroles in the freezer but DD is unlikely to eat them after having something big at lunchtime.

So far on my list I have:

1. Boiled or scrambled eggs and toast with ham, salami, tomato, cucumber etc as they want
2. Pasta with pesto or tomato sauce and various veg additions like frozen peas and spinach, maybe some bacon
3. Baked potatoes which I can easily whack in the oven earlier, with beans and cheese.
4. Pizza with salad

Any other ideas for super quick meals that can be flexed to child's appetite so we don't get stuck in a complete rut and/or end up having to cater 2 different meals?

I would just do easy meals/stuff you can prepare in advance, and adjust the portion size

Sausage and mash
Fishfingers and chips once in a while
Stuff you can chuck in the oven in one tray - chicken with chorizo and new pots goes down well here

Make batches of mac cheese, bolognaise sauce, stews, shepherds pie etc and freeze then defrost portion on day and micro.

Yeah, I think I'll just have to cook like crazy in the next few days and freeze!

Can you take a few mins out to do casseroles and stews and just leave them to cook in the oven for an hr or so?
Or oven baked one tray dishes?

Bbc Good Food has a good selection.

We've been getting those foil take-away trays and batch cooking - filling them with things like cottage pie or lasagne.

Something like meatballs and pasta would be quick to cook. We have bacon and leek/mushroom pasta with a carbonara type sauce - take 10 mins to make (less with fresh pasta)

You might like to get a copy of Nigel Slater's 'Real Food Fast' - loads of ideas in there.

How about soup (from supermarket shelves, or make your own to freeze), omelettes, beans on toast, fish baked in the oven, all-day breakfast?

Fajitas? Just chicken, onions and peppers and fry with the spices (we use old el paso rubbish )

Reckon you can make them in 15 mins or so?

Toad in the hole with lots of veg?

Thanks! These are all great ideas. TBH I think it is more the catering to 2 levels of appetite that has been worrying me. I think I'll just have to dish up something for DS, serve the same to DD and if she doesn't eat it then not fret about the food waste as there will be too much else to fret about anyway! Will check out Nigel Slater book - I have his pudding one which is super quick and easy so that sounds good.
Thanks all. DH just made big batches of ratatouille and tomato sauce for the freezer so already feeling a bit calmer :)

Glad you are feeling calmer. I try not to fret when DD doesn't eat but I'm not always successful.

That Gino D'acampo recipe was lovely last night and very quick.