What to have for dinner during baseball and softball season?

[EllenFrasier]

My kids are both playing sports this year - dd12 is playing softball and ds12 is little league baseball. The games are often at 6pm and it is difficult to get dinner before that time. They really don't want to eat before the game, but are starving afterwords. We cannot afford to get take out all the time and eating at the park, well it can be gross. Just so many hotdogs and hamburgers you can eat.
For parents who have this dilemma or those with ideas, what can we do about dinner on game nights?

 

[mom2t]

Pack a picnic of sandwiches and chips and cookies.

 

[threecrazykids]

Great question! I actually opened a thread very similar to this and I still use the ideas! I don't take ALL of the things on my list in one evening, but I do whatever I can to cut down on what I call "the concession stand drain".

There are lots of great ideas in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2456513

On the nights I don't have to really pack a lot (based on what time the game will be over) I typically just throw something in the crock pot at a time it will be ready when we get home.

 

[dawson5]

We use the crock-pot a lot during ball season. I've also stock-piled a bunch of recipes for 30 minute meals and try to have the ingredients on hand.

 

[figment3258]

I would highly recommend falling in love with your crock potYou can do everything in it I even make dessert.

 

[dntd]

I have 4 kids playing this year(1 is in tee ball), 2 are supposed to be on the same team this year. My oldest can get to his practices and even his games by himself the other 3 can't. So I could have 3-4 games and 3-4 practices a week! Needless to say we have lots of salads, sometimes pizza but we eat early before the practice or game.

 

[Chelley00]

We live eating out of crockpot August - October and April - June for soccer seasons. My mom bought me a couple of crockpot cookbooks, and we use the crockpot365.blogspot.com recipes all the time.

I also keep a stash of deli meats/cheese/breads on hand so we can have a quick sandwich after games. Sometimes we also eat breakfast for dinner and have pancakes, cereal and fruit or something like that.

 

[mlandgrebe]

I have to agree - the crock pot was one of the best inventions for busy days. Just don't forget to plug it in! Otherwise - chili is quick & easy. One of my husband's favorite quick meals is spaghetti carbonara (cooked spaghetti, crumbled bacon, mixed with eggs, spices and parmesan cheese).

 

[HeatherC]

Looks like we have a schedule very similar to you.

Here are some of the things I make.

Crockpot Brisket....Slice a bunch of onions in bottom of crockport. Salt and pepper a flat cut brisket and pour a bottle of bbq sauce over the top. Cook all day.

Enchilada casserole....brown ground beef or turkey add in a cup or two of rice. Layer in casserole dish flour tortillas, enchilada sauce, meat and rice and shredded cheddar. Bake to heat up...only takes about fifteen minutes.

Rotisserie chicken with bag of caesear salad.

Taco meat in casserole pot.

Make a big roast chicken or turkey on the weekend and use leftovers during the week. I also make stuffing and mashed potatoes to have.

Crockpot pulled pork with cole slaw and rolls.

Crockpot of spaghetti sauce with sausage and peppers and onions or meatballs. I make the spaghetti ahead of time and keep in fridge? When you get home, make plates with the hot sauce on top amd microwave for two minutes.

Meatloaf. Make a couple and freeze to use another day.

Quick BLT's. I use the precooked bacon and microwave it while bread is toasting.

Cold pasta salad made ahead of time served with fresh fruit or cut up veggies and dip. I also throw some Perdue Shortcuts chicken in with it.

Hope these give you some ideas!

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

Another vote for http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

French Toast and Turkey Sausage

$5 Foot Long

BBQ pulled pork sammy's from the crockpot.

Chicken Quesdillas w/ rice. Make chicken and rice ahead of time and assemble quesadillas when you get home.

 

[KKB]

Last year we had TWO in baseball!!!
Crock pot is my best friend (toss a whole chicken plus seasonings in--you don't even add water! or do bone in chix breasts w/ broth & seasonings) ; I also ALWAYS (year round) keep my fridge/pantry stocked w/ things the kids can always quickly & easily throw things together--Pb & J (bread or tortillas), chips & cheese, chicken strips, fish sticks, canned soups & ravioli, grilled cheese, frozen pizza & lean pockets.
For away games I pack everything--gatorade, water, baby carrots, cut up fruit; this the ONLY time of year I buy individual snack bags--chips, cookies, PB crackers, etc. I also make my own "crustables" that are WAY cheaper than the frozen ones--in fact, I can make a whole loaf's worth for less than the price of a box of 4! I have those Pampered Chef round cutter things that crimp the edges...I just cut a loaf out (crusts frozen for bread pudding)--my kids like that Wonder Smart White, so high fiber. I label the baggies--everyone likes different combos of jelly/PB. Toss them in freezer--ready any time! I also stock up on jerky when it is on sale--seriously, even on sale, it is like $16/lb. But it is an easy way to get protein on the road.
(Got the crockpot out for tomorrow for those chicken breasts already!)

 

[3boymthr]

My kids don't do sports but I run into this dilemma a lot with scouts. Most of the camp-outs have 6 PM departure and the kids have to eat before they leave. We're not crock pot people. My kids just don't like foods that are cooked and/or served "together". They also won't eat most casseroles. On those nights we end up doing a lot of hearty sandwiches with lots of veggies or grilled sandwiches and soup. Also, home made Meatball subs (using pre-prepared meatballs) or steak subs (I buy the shaved steak not the steak-ums) and the like. Homemade pizza using store bought pre-made dough is also a favorite.

 

[Monknmom]

We have soccer season for my son, but it's the same concept. We have a lot of different crock pot meals! There's chili, ribs, chicken, and lots of others! I hope that this helps!

 

[woodkins]

We do all star cheer which is a year round sport and 3 days of the week we have to leave the house by 5pm to drive to the gym. I just cook on the weekends or late at night and plate up individual portions (make my own TV dinners LOL). Heat them up in the microwave and you are good to go. The other 2 days my dd8 brings her dinner to the gym since she has 3 hour practices and heats it up there, so it is the same situation. I bought tupperware microwave safe dishes for her to use and they work fine.

 

[crazelion]

Looks like we have a schedule very similar to you.


Cold pasta salad made ahead of time served with fresh fruit or cut up veggies and dip. I also throw some Perdue Shortcuts chicken in with it.

Hope these give you some ideas!

I love that idea. I make during baseball season when hundred degrees when don't want nothing heavy.

 

[seashoreCM]

... but I run into this dilemma a lot with scouts. Most of the camp-outs have 6 PM departure and the kids have to eat before they leave. We're not crock pot people. My kids just don't like foods that are ...

Especially for scouting and camping with friends and others, kids need to learn to be less fussy about what they eat!

Is the question:
1. What time you eat?
2. What you eat?
3. What time you cook?
4. If you cook?

Can the kids eat a snack (regular food, not dessert food) before the game and have dinner at home after the game?

 

[RitaE]

During the sports seasons I think my kids pretty much live off of Pita Sandwiches.

I keeps large Ziplocs in the refrigerator with the different types of things that can go in there ... roast beef, chicken, turkey, meatballs etc and then a bunch of chopped up veggies and cheese slices. My son's specialty is mozzarella/turkey meatball pitas. Sometimes he makes them for all of us. Add some carrot sticks or some fruit and you're good.

It takes under 5 minutes for them to put a sandwich together and it's healthier than constant fast food or concession stand.

 

[clutter]

On game days, my dd often needs to eat before I get home from work. I've found what she loves: leftovers!

We're only 2 in our family, but I'll buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco on Sunday, peel off the meat and make soup on Sundays. Then we can feast off of it during the week. If we're home, I make chicken & rice (for some reason, that's the only dinner dd doesn't like leftovers from) in the time it takes to cook rice. I can make chicken in a white sauce (standard white sauce recipe with a little bit of sherry for flavor), which she will eat as a leftover. Pot roast. Cook on the weekend, and you've got dinner in the time it takes to make noodles. My dd will eat cold steak, and we've discovered that cream cheese mashed potatos re-heat better than regular.

Unfortunately, I find chicken gets too dried out in the crock-pot, so I usually only use that for beef. My dd also will not do anything southwest flavored (salsa) or tomato based (chili) and is not a fan of ground beef. Go figure. Since it's only the two of us, I can easily accomodate her with stuff we both like.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I hear you.. this year I have 3 in baseball (1 kid is also playing for 2 teams/2 leagues), 2 that are in scouts and 2 in dance. Ahh is it Summer yet lol.

I am loving all of the ideas posted.. I also love to use my crockpot