when to have dinner?

[Richie'sMama]

Hi.

My kids go to school all day and when they get home (between 3 and 4) I give them a dinner like meal. If I don't they are cranky and tired. They'll eat a small meal at dinner time with the rest of the family. DH wants to change this and allow the kids only fruit or veggies after school so they'll eat a better meal at night. Is one way healthier than another?

Thanks.

[Alyantavid]

I think whatever works for your family is what you should do.

We get home about 4 and my kids are starving and usually have a good sized snack (typically fruit now that I think about it). Then we eat dinner a couple hours later. And they usually have a snack before bed as well.

[samy23]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

I think whatever works for your family is what you should do.

We get home about 4 and my kids are starving and usually have a good sized snack (typically fruit now that I think about it). Then we eat dinner a couple hours later. And they usually have a snack before bed as well.

We get home after school at 3:30, but some days there are after-school activities meaning we get home at 4:30, sometimes 5:30. Dd is always really hungry after school, so she has a decent filling snack, then around 6-6:30 we have dinner, and she's usually pretty hungry again by that time. Then she has a small snack right before bed.

Sometimes I think we should have dinner earlier at like 5pm, but it's difficult to make a meal when you are outside the house until close to then, or until after that time some days!

I really don't know when is better health wise to eat dinner, I did hear on a weightloss program about children that they should have dinner soon after school, instead of later at like 6-7pm. I think thats because they have a while afterwards to burn off the calories? instead of 30mins then going to bed.

We always used to have dinner around 5pm when I was a kid. My parents still do.

[MyLittleWarrior]

I really struggle with this too. The kids are always hungry for dinner around 5-5:30, bed time is 7:00, and DH often doesn't get home until 7-7:30. So I feed the kids early and eat later with DH. I'd really like to do a family dinner, and get the kids used to eating what we eat for dinner, but it's just not going to work right now. And I fall back on easy kid favorites like mac & cheese and chicken nuggets because I don't feel like cooking two whole dinners every day.