How do I avoid eating out while still going to the pool???

[leagirl12]

We recently joined a pool not far from us. I get off work at 3:00 everyday and would love to take the kids a few times each week. I am hoping you guys can help me with some quick easy summer meals so we don't have to eat out the nights we go to the pool.

Let me add that the pool is about 40 min from our house so in order to make it worthwhile to go we probably won't get home till about 7:00 on those nights so if there was something I could have waiting or something really quick it would be great.

Any ideas?????????

 

[Bren's Mom]

Breakfast for dinner is always big in our house, and especially when I'm short on time. When I'm making weekend pancakes I'll make extra, freeze them with wax paper in between and put in a large ziploc. They reheat just fine in either the microwave or the toaster. Add the ready made bacon and some fruit and you're set. Or cereal and fruit.

Hot dogs, chips and a salad.

Hot or cold roast beef or turkey sandwiches. To heat, throw either a can of Au Jus or Turkey gravy in a pan, heat it up, throw in the appropriate meat and then simmer for just a minute or two to warm. Serve on a heart roll.

Pre-grilled chicken or steak. Day 1 serve fresh from the grill. Slice extra when cool. Serve cold (or slightly warmed in micro) over a big tossed salad with tortilla strips. OR chop up, make some Rice A Roni or other box rice and throw in the meat during the last 5 minutes of cooking. ETA: And also can be reaheated and served with tortillas, salsa, cheese...fajita style.

I like to make creamy cucumber or tomato/cucumber/onion(optional) chopped salad. Both can be made ahead and just served from the fridge.

Enjoy the pool! Ours (at house) is open but WAAAYYY too cold to enjoy yet!

 

[leagirl12]

These are some great ideas. I don't know why I hadn't thought about making a batch of pancakes ahead of time. My kids LOVE breakfast for dinner.

Thanks!

Keep them coming!!!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

Crockpots are always good for that, or have sandwich night. You say the pool isn't far from you, but it's 40 minutes away? For years we've spent thousands joining a private pool in town, because the nearest public pool is 20 minutes away!

 

[Bren's Mom]

These are some great ideas. I don't know why I hadn't thought about making a batch of pancakes ahead of time. My kids LOVE breakfast for dinner.

Thanks!

You're welcome! My ds gets a BIG kick out of breakfast for dinner, so I do it often!

You can do french toast in large batches also. Those reheat very nicely in the toaster, either from the fridge or even straight from the freezer. I just do pancakes more often because my guys generally prefer those. Freeze pre-cooked sausage links also are quick. And, of course, EGGS! Some scrambled eggs, toast and fruit or veggie omelets and toast works too.

 

[Jsme]

Due to the heat in the summer we rarely cook big meals inside. We eat a lot of things on the grill or cold sandwiches. Since my family are not big sandwich eaters I mix that up and make gourmet style sandwiches and subs.

 

[iluvdiscruises]

what about eating at the pool? We go to one that's only 5 min from the house, but generally try to bring dinner with us. My kids will eat chicken nuggets from the cooler, pb&j, I'll make a wrap or something...then it's all cleaned up before we even get home! We pack up grapes, pretzels, basically anything that easily transports!

 

[Singleminnie]

I second the crockpot idea, I cooked some steak meat (not expensive) in my crockpot with some onions, garlic and salsa covering it until tender (I cut the steaks into 1 inch strips before cooking). Let it cool and refigerate, pull it out for tacos during the week. I do a lot of cooking like this on the weekends, because my week nights are so hectic being a single mother.

 

[ceecee]

Wow...40 minutes each way? That is far for a trip to the pool, I would probably pack and eat a picnic there. Or pasta salads, prebagged salads with chicken or quesadillas when you get home for a lighter dinner since it will be at 7:00 pm.

 

[SereneOne]

How about faquitas? I cook up a batch of seasoned chicken with onions and peppers on Sunday and heat it up for lunch Monday through Friday. I add some pico de gallo, some guacamole, cheese and jalepenoes. Add some fruit salad as a side and it is a pretty healthy meal.

Or salads! Have some dark leafy greens and different salad fixins' including protein and everyone can make their own. (I have a container I use for tacos or salads that has a large main compartment in the middle and then smaller openings surrounding it, when everyone is finished, just put the lid on and store it back in the fridge).

 

[momxx5]

We spent our time at the pool during the daytime, so for us it is lunch that is the "pool meal".
Once a week I let the kids order lunch at the pool as a treat.

For other times we often pack lunch meat, cheese, a loaf of bread and baked Lays. I keep a stash of inexpensive paper plates and napkins with the cooler.
The lunch meat is still in the pkg from the store (resealable kind) and I'll make the kids the sandwhiches and a handful of chips on a plate. Fruit stored in the cooler is awesome....cantelope, strawberries, etc. Cut veggies and a bottle of ranch is a nice snack too.

I have on occasion I'll grill hot dogs and wrap them in foil. I cook them just before leaving and then the kids will eat shortly after getting to the pool.

Lunchable are not my fav but they are a treat for the kids too and less expensive that the pool snack bar.

Our pool allows pizza delivery also. So once a month we get pizza delivered. That is often an evening meal.

I'm not sure how you would be able to store items while working. Do you can a fridge at work that you can use? A wheeled soft-sided cooler is a must for us....tons of drinks...water, juice boxes, watermelon, etc.

I hope you can find some ideas to make your pool time fun for all.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Thought of a couple more things!

Sausage and peppers or meatballs and sauce in the crock pot. Throw pre-cooked sausage or meatballs (frozen still is fine) in the sauce and put on low. When you get home just throw into grinder rolls. For the meatballs you can always add some mozzarella cheese and put in the broiler or toaster oven for a couple of minutes to make it 'parm'.

 

[pigletof4]

I agree with the crockpot. Right now I have chicken breasts in there topped with frozen onions and peppers with a jar of salsa poured on top. When my dh gets home from work I will add taco cheese to melt and throw them into tortillas. I work nights and the crockpot is my lifesaver. I make it eat dinner before going to work and then dh can feed the kids when they are ready to eat instead of us eating dinner together at 4pm.

 

[TiffanyK]

Crockpot meals were the first that came to my mind too. Here's a link to some on my blog.

You could make pasta salad with grilled chicken up ahead of time and it's ready to eat cold.

I think I'd pack some snacks too. Swimming makes kids pretty hungry and 7pm is late for dinner. Healthy snacks on the way home might be a good idea.

 

[bluehen]

We like to cook big batches and store inthe freezer. Things that we do

Chili
baked ziti
stuffed peppers
italian sausage with peppers and onions
even hearty soups

All of these are just as good out of the freezer. Just pull out the night before (and no problem if you forget). When you get in from the pools immediately put it in the microwave. By the time the stuff is put away and your dressed...dinner.

 

[coltfan]

This recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stores well for several days. You can take it to the pool in individual serving size containers or serve it when you get home. We usually have Wheat Thins and fresh fruit with it.

8 oz. corkscrew pasta
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cubed
1 lb. cooked, diced chicken
12 strips cooked bacon crumbled
1 cup diced green pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup Italian dressing
1 avocado diced (optional) I only use if eating all of the salad that day

Bake chicken and dice it. Cook bacon and crumble it. Prepare pasta according to package directions and rinse with cold water. Whisk mayonnaise and dressing together in a large bowl. Mix all ingredients in large bowl and serve.

While preparing this recipe, you could cook extra bacon to make blt sandwiches one night and also save some for the "breakfast for dinner" nights.

 

[leagirl12]

I know 40 minutes each way is a bit of a drive but it is the only thing close to us...we live out in the middle of nowhere...so we have to drive to everything..LOL!

The pool rules state for no food to be brought but I did see plenty of people with snacks in their bags on Saturday. I could probably get away with taking snacks for the kids to eat to hold them over until we can get home for dinner.

As far as the time....because of my husbands work schedule there are several days a week we don't eat until 7:30-7:45 because I like for us to wait for him to get home so we can eat as a family. So eating that late isn't nothing new to us....actually for some reason we have always eaten fairly late during the summer.....we are usually outside and time gets away from you very quickly.

You guys have given me some really good ideas!!!! I can't wait to put some together. We are not big sandwich eaters but I really like the idea a pp said about doing gourmet sandwiches or subs...I did subs alot last summer and my kids really liked them!

I think I will get some frozen meatballs this weekend to throw in the crockpot next week and make subs with....my kids will love that.

I just don't ever think of these things...we tend to get in a food rutt and eat the same things all of the time. I am really hoping to change that!!!

You guys ROCK!!!

 

[leagirl12]

This recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stores well for several days. You can take it to the pool in individual serving size containers or serve it when you get home. We usually have Wheat Thins and fresh fruit with it.

8 oz. corkscrew pasta
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cubed
1 lb. cooked, diced chicken
12 strips cooked bacon crumbled
1 cup diced green pepper
1 cup diced celery
1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup Italian dressing
1 avocado diced (optional) I only use if eating all of the salad that day

Bake chicken and dice it. Cook bacon and crumble it. Prepare pasta according to package directions and rinse with cold water. Whisk mayonnaise and dressing together in a large bowl. Mix all ingredients in large bowl and serve.

While preparing this recipe, you could cook extra bacon to make blt sandwiches one night and also save some for the "breakfast for dinner" nights.

This looks very YUMMY.....I will be making it SOON!!