Quick & easy after school dinners suggestions

[Tiredmum21]

My dd4 starts school this week - she's been at nursery since she was one and was always given a meal at 5pm - when she'd come home we offered her a snack but dinner was taken care of for the week which was a lifesaver.

Now she starts reception she'll be in after school club for half the week where she'll get a 'snack' - not sure what this will be yet - but we will have to sort an evening meal when we get in around 6pm..

Any suggestions for quick and easy meals i can quickly get on the table? Appreciate i'm going to need to do some meal planning but suggestions gratefully received! DD4 tends to eat everything..

Are you planning to eat together, or feed DD separately? If the latter, then always make extra for yourselves and freeze DD-sized portions. This will be healthiest and least work!
Otherwise, stuff on toast, eggs and sandwiches are your friends.

Things like Bolognese and chilli freeze really well and then just do some rice/pasta/baked potato to go with it.

Eggs are always good - omelette, dippy egg, scrambled.

Soup is nice in the winter.

Stir fry is quick and easy.

Cook extra of whatever you're having/you have on the weekend and make a few dinners a week leftovers.

Slow cooker meals could be perfect for this situation. So many things you can make and either just do pasta/rice etc. separately.
Curries, spag Bol, chilli, stew, can even do a lamb kebab (absolutely delicious by the way)

On school nights on days where I work I arrange for the children to have hot school dinners so it's not the end of the world if it's a hearty ham sandwich, crisps and carrots type tea.

if she's going into reception she will be eligible for universal free school meals.

alternatively we make good use of fresh pasta and sauces which can be on the table in minutes,

microwave rice with chilli, curries or even goulash type dishes which have been made in advance and just need reheating.

sometimes we have a 'fry up'.

I tend to save full family meals for the weekends and the days in the week I don't work or work from home though.

Fish finger tacos
Tuna pasta
Naan pizzas
Sausage stroganoff
Sesame chicken noodles
Prawn curry
Egg fried rice
Halloumi burgers
Enchiladas
Chicken curry

Thank you for the suggestions!

DD is having school meals so i'm hoping I can get away with some light options if she's not too hungry - would like to save the family meals for when I'm working from home at will have more time.

I would just make a portion from the night before’s dinner for her. Honestly, mine have never come home from school not starving so easily eat loads of snacks (fruit, yoghurt, crackers, sandwich) and then still have a hot meal after.

What mindutopia said.
Otherwise stir fry and couscous is pretty speedy!

Following!

first I’d check what after school snack actually consists of. Our after school club “snacks” are things like beans on toast or unlimited crackers and cheese so most children don’t eat again!