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Why My Kids Have Dinner at 3 P.M.
Like many parents, I’ve had my fair share of mealtime struggles. My oldest, who I’ll call Leo, has always been a notoriously picky eater, while my younger one, Mia, is hopelessly addicted to sweets and can barely sit at the table for more than three minutes. Let me tell you, family dinners can sometimes feel like an episode of a chaotic cooking show! But hey, that’s just part of the parenting adventure, right?
The hours between school pick-up and bedtime often spiral into utter chaos, especially when it comes to feeding them. It turns out, neither of them eats much for lunch (and judging from conversations with other parents, this seems to be a common theme). So when they come home, they’re not just hungry; they’re HANGRY. I’m talking about a level of hunger that could make them flop down on the floor in tears if I don’t serve something immediately. I remember those post-school hunger pangs all too well.
For years, I tried the after-school snack routine—think mini-pizza bagels, pita chips with hummus, and granola bars—anything quick and somewhat healthy. But the snacking didn’t stop. They’d graze from 3 to 4 p.m., and by the time dinner rolled around, it was a total joke. One mealtime blended into the next, creating confusion and annoyance.
Then, one day, inspiration struck: why not serve dinner at 3 or 4 p.m., when they’re obviously the hungriest? So, I decided to give it a whirl. It’s been a game-changer. Sure, getting a meal together that early can be tricky, and I sometimes resort to appetizers if they’re particularly ravenous. But I’ve found that simple meals like pasta, chicken nuggets, or grilled cheese—paired with a fruit or veggie—work wonders.
And guess what? They actually eat it! This is way more nutritious than the endless snacks I used to offer, which usually ruined their appetite for dinner. They tend to eat this early meal before tackling their homework, so they’re well-fed and in a good mood when it’s time to hit the books.
You might wonder if they get hungry again before bed. They do have healthy snacks later if needed, which has significantly cut down on the mindless munching they used to do throughout the evening.
As for me, do I eat dinner at this early hour too? Absolutely! Like many parents, I rise with the sun, so I typically have breakfast, lunch, and yes, an early dinner. While I don’t sit down at quite the same time as my kids, I usually enjoy a meal around 4:30 or 5 p.m., followed by a small snack after they’ve settled down for the night.
So yes, my kids eat dinner at 3 or 4 p.m. It might sound unconventional, but when I shared this with friends, many admitted they do something similar or wanted to try it after hearing my experience. Why not? Kids go to bed around 8 p.m., so why should they wait until 6 or 7 for dinner? This early eating schedule aligns better with their natural rhythms, reducing some of that infamous 4 p.m. witching hour chaos.
Feeding my kids an early dinner has been a revelation, and I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out. And for anyone who thinks I’m off my rocker for breaking the so-called “normal” dinnertime rules, I say this: who really cares what time it is? Kids’ bodies don’t give a hoot about societal expectations.
My motto? Serve your kids nutritious meals when they’re hungry. Do what works for your family. The rest is just noise. Bon appétit!
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Summary
In this article, a mom shares her experience of shifting dinner time for her kids to 3 or 4 p.m. to align with their hunger patterns, making mealtimes smoother and more nutritious. This unconventional approach has drastically reduced snacking and improved homework time. The author encourages parents to prioritize their kids’ needs over societal norms.