For those who have a DH who comes home late in the evening.....

[MakemineaGandT]

Do you wait and eat late? Or do you eat earlier and then prepare something for your DH later? Or do you cook once and microwave leftovers for DH? I'm finding I'm not eating properly in the week because DH works such long hours and it's just me in the evening (DCs eat earlier about 5pm - I can't face eating that early...)

MrsJD - I guess I need to do more of that. Tonight I did roast chicken for the DCs. I have some of the chicken with salad once DCs are in bed, and DH can have some more of the chicken with salad and a jacket potato or whatever when he eventually comes in. I know this is practical but I find it a bit depressing - I really enjoy cooking and I'd love to cook nice varied meals every evening for me and DH and sit down together and eat them leisurely. I guess I need to accept that just isn't going to happen until he's retired!

I cook for the DDs at 5.30, and DH usually cooks for us after he gets in at 7.30. I fantasise about a time when we might all be able to eat together, but I can't see it ever happening!

I eat with the kids at 6ish. I'm generally starving by then and jsut snack all evening otherwise. DH is rarely home before 9 so will have his dinner warmed up while we have a cuddle and catch up. I then go to bed (now!) as am up a lot in the night and DH eats his dinner.

I feed the baby at 5pm then my 4 year old after - I usually have a meal previously frozen which I reheat and then I cook main dinner later - depends 8-9 some days. I like to aim 7.30 really as I find it too late and dont sleep the best. I find the evenings exhausting!

I would recommend freezing meals for the children when really young.

also Rice is fine reheated, its only dodgy if it hasnt been cooked properly in the first place. I have successfully re-heated rice all my adult life and havent had any complaints yet!

That's a bit like a 40 per day smoking denying that lung cancer gives you cancer. Yes you can safely reheat rice - but only if it is heated to piping hot (which tends to affect the other delicate ingredients in paella like prawns by turning them rubbery!)

should read ; "40 per day smoker"

and 'cigarettes' (my typing is quicker than my cognitive processes!)

i eat when i am hungry, thenwhen dh eats - i sit at the table with a brew and if i am not eating becuase hehas come home late - it matters nt becuase i am sat there and we have the same 'how way your day' conversation that we would have had if i had been eating.

i think its about the company - not the food.

Agree with custardo - except its either coffee or wine, depending on what sort of day I've had.

Although DH's hours vary, DC normally eat around 5, DH sometimes home at 6, sometimes, 7, and sometimes 9-10. If he's going to be home 6-7, then we'll eat together once the DC are in bed, normally what the DC have had but maybe jazzed up a bit, a bit of chilli, something else on the side etc. I don't like eating after about 8 so if its after that, I'll just sit and chat with him whilst quaffing a drink.

Weekends we all eat together, and occasionally, for eg, if I've had a quiet day and managed to get say a really nice piece of fish or something, then we will have something different, but this isn't the norm.

I cook and eat dinner with the kids at 7. dh comes home around 8 and warms his portion up in the microwave.
no cooking twice.

I cook for the dd's at about 4.30. DH gets in at 6.45 and we might have the youngest [1.4] asleep for between 8.30 and 9.30. Then we forage/order takeout/do a spar run before she wakes about 11.

It aint pretty I tell ya!

In fact it's 16.45 and I should be doing that 'feeding the kids thing' shouldn't I?

I cook a meal for everyone and if DH isn't home, which is most nights, his gets warmed up in the microwave.

Sometimes he will let me know if he is going to be really late and then I don't bother. He can't wait until midnight to eat and if I leave him a meal he will just end up eating twice.

I cook one dinner for everyone, at about 5.30. Dh gets in after 8, so he reheats his in the microwave. I feel a bit sorry for him, I know he hates reheated roast, for example, but I am not cooking twice, plus we have various swimming/uni type commitments in the evenings. We all eat together at weekends.

I am starving by 5.30, so waiting until dh came home was making me snack terribly and I lost loads of weight when I started eating earlier.

I usually eat with the dcs about 5.30 depending on what we are having I may leave some for dh to heat up when he comes home.

About half the time I don't cook him anything and he sorts himself out when he gets in.

Actually it depends
sometimes I cook once - stews, chili etc when DS2 is away
Other nights Dcs at 5-6 including one seperate meal for DS2 because of his food issues, then supper for me and DH at about 8.30pm.
I also have one night when DD has done two hours of gym and need feeding as soon as she gets home at 6.00, then DS1 needs immediate feeding as soon as he gets home after 2 1/2 hours rugby or cricket trainning at 7.00, then DH gets home at 7.30 and we eat at 8.30

And I farking hate cooking