Meal planning around soccer practice and other activities

[Biscuits & Gravy]

We have entered the world of soccer practice. It is 1-2 nights a week at 5:45. Typically we have dinner around 5:30 or 6, so this will take some adapting.

What do you have for dinner on busy nights?

[kaaris]

I can't say enough good things about crock pot meals for nights like that. When I make my meal plan, I usually include a couple crock pot meals to work around this issue.

The meal planner I made lets you search for only crock pot meals that match up with what is in your vegbox (if you're getting a CSA share this spring/summer). (You can also search vegan, vegetarian, gf, df...)

http://www.EatRealGood.com

Thanks for the reminder, actually - I need to enter some more yuuuuummy crock pot meals into the database. I LOVE my crock pot!

[nola79]

We eat earlier, around 4:30, 5 on practice days. If you can't get home earlier, you could have leftovers, something easy that does not require a lot of prep, like sandwhiches for example. Or, we have also just picked up something quick on the way/way home if we are really strapped for time.
The crockpot idea is good, too.
I aim for easy on practice days.

[wife&mommy]

I agree about the crockpot! It is great for things like this. I also have several meals that I can throw together pretty quickly. I'll see if I can find some of them for you.

Blackbean & Cheese Quesadillas, super quick
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...esadillas.html

Blackbean Tacos with Avocado & Lime
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...e-avocado.html

Cobb Sandwiches
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...hes-yummy.html

[Earthy Mama]

I'm in the same boat. Soccer practice tuesday and thursday from 5:30-7:30 (two kids worth). So, we get home @ 7:45. We can't eat early because I get off of work at 5-enough time to grab the kids and go. We usually have pizza one of those nights and either crockpot or *shudder* hot dogs-which I hate, but the girls love so, whatever.

[Earthy Mama]

Originally Posted by kaaris

I can't say enough good things about crock pot meals for nights like that. When I make my meal plan, I usually include a couple crock pot meals to work around this issue.

The meal planner I made lets you search for only crock pot meals that match up with what is in your vegbox (if you're getting a CSA share this spring/summer). (You can also search vegan, vegetarian, gf, df...)

http://www.EatRealGood.com

Thanks for the reminder, actually - I need to enter some more yuuuuummy crock pot meals into the database. I LOVE my crock pot!

I love you for this website!!

[momofmine]

This is my hardest dilemma with meal planning too. We have soccer three nights a week, and two of them we leave the house at 4:30 and aren't home until 7:30. It never works to feed my kids as early as 4, they are starved by the time they get home. Plus, I don't want them to have a huge meal right before practice. During these busy seasons I actually try to have lunch be a really big meal. Then they can have a decent-sized snack before practice, and then eat again when they get home. Sometimes it is just leftovers, or crock pot, or sometimes I am actually cooking and we don't eat until literally 9:00 at night.

I am really going to try to be more consistent with doing the big lunchtime meal though, because it just seems easier.

[MisaGoat]

Originally Posted by wife&mommy

I agree about the crockpot! It is great for things like this. I also have several meals that I can throw together pretty quickly. I'll see if I can find some of them for you.

Blackbean & Cheese Quesadillas, super quick
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...esadillas.html

Blackbean Tacos with Avocado & Lime
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...e-avocado.html

Cobb Sandwiches
http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.c...hes-yummy.html

I read this earlier today and guess what is for dinner? Blackbean Tacos with Avocado and lime!

I really like your blog! I need easy, healthy meals to break the take-out habit that has developed over the past two months before and after our move.

[wife&mommy]

Oh I'm glad you like it!
Those tacos are yummy, they are on our list for this week.

[34me]

No longer a soccer mom but a hockeyrunsrightintolacrosse season mom. during hockey we have an elaborate carpool system set up because it's 4 nights a week and 90 minutes away, 90 minute practice (plus time to get gear on) and then back so I am actually responsible for one night a week fully and then just getting him to carpool and back is about a hour a night. Lacrosse is 4 nights per week, 5:30-7 but it's 30 minutes away and you have to leave time to get dressed.

Anyway, I do a lot of planned overs. I might make chili Tuesday night one week and have chili topped baked potatoes the following Thursday. I'll stick a whole chicken in the crockpot and shred it for burritos and then make chicken soup with the left over meat and stock. I love the lunchbox burrito recipe that's all over the internet because it too feeds a family one night and then you can make and freeze the rest for snacks or another meal.