This post is in partnership with Sandwich Bros. All thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Get Your Cleats On!
This is me. Yelling this about 3 nights a week. Spring sports have begun and we’ve got practice, baby. Both of my kids’ practices begin at 6pm, so you’re either serving dinner at 4:30 to give them time to digest and get the cleats on, or you’re feeding them after you get home around 8:30pm. Whether you go early or late, you better make it quick. What’s a soccer mom to do?
After about 4 years of this I think I’ve finally figured out how to manage dinner on practice nights. Here are my handy little tips so you don’t lose your mind up in here trying to juggle it all.
3 Tips for Managing Meals on Practice Nights
Plan for Leftovers
Menu planning is such a lifesaver during sports seasons. While other times of year it’s doable to wing it and run to the store at the last minute, ain’t nobody got time for that when you have to be on the field at 6pm. So plan ahead, and on the nights BEFORE practice night, make a meal you know is going to leave you with leftovers.
Do a slow cooker meal, a big batch of soup, chili, whatever you make that you know you’re going to have leftover, make that, and then heat it up quickly before or after practice.
Serve a Snacky Meal
This is just what we call it, ‘snacky meal,’ and the kids love it. I just put out a big ole cutting board and pile it with a variety of finger foods. You have to have some protein to give them some endurance, and then some other healthy options too.
Here’s what usually goes on my ‘snacky meal’ plate:
- Smoked salmon
- Sliced cheese
- Fruit of any kind (my kids like berries a lot!)
- Olives
- Baby carrots
You can literally have that on the table in 5 minutes flat and my kids devour it.
Sandwich Bros. For The Win!
This is my favorite for a quickie meal on the go. I just want to tell you, I partnered with Sandwich Bros. a couple of months ago to try their products and share them with you, and I’m literally addicted. I just bought 2 more boxes at the store this week. They fit the bill for so many quick meal or hearty snack needs, and they are perfect for practice nights.
Sandwich Bros. has varieties that are perfect for a quick meal: Angus Cheeseburgers, Chicken Melts (my favorite!), Gyro Sliders, and Italian Sausage Melts. (They have breakfast sandwiches too!) These delicious sandwiches are the perfect punch of protein to give your kids the energy they need to make it through practice. At only about 160 calories each, they won’t weigh kids down and make them feel sluggish, and they are literally ready in under one minute!
With their handy pocket sandwich design, they’re super easy to grab and go. Eat them in the car if you need to! And if you have an extra couple of minutes, stuff in a bit of lettuce and tomato and a side of veggies or fruit and you have the perfect pre-practice meal.
A little note if you’re resistant to going the frozen-food route (because I get it, there are plenty of not-so-healthy items in the freezer case): These sandwiches are made from REAL ingredients. The Chicken Melt is 100% white chicken breast, topped with real American cheese. They’re only 160 calories and pack in 11 grams of protein. This is food you can feel good about feeding your family AND it fits the bill for those nights when you have no time to cook a big sit down dinner.
It’s soccer night in my house for both kids, so this what you’ll find on my table tonight!
Learn More
Check out the Sandwich Bros. website to see all of the varieties they have available, which stores near you carry them, and get some great recipe and serving ideas. They have some great tips for eating well when you’re pressed for time, too. Also be sure to follow on social media. They offer lots of great contests and coupons: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
Giveaway
The generous folks at Sandwich Bros. are sponsoring an AWESOME giveaway for my readers! One winner will receive this great prize to help calm the crazy on practice nights Here’s what’s included in the $110+ prize:
- 10 FREE Sandwich Bros. product coupons ($60)
- Sandwich Bros. lunch bag ($12)
- Sandwich Bros. hat ($12)
- Sandwich Bros. Tshirt ($10)
- Embrava Best Sports Water Bottle ($20)
This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+ only and will end at 11:59pm ET on April 24, 2017. Good luck!
Jessica To says
I think both my son and I would like the Chicken Melt sandwich.
Richard Brandt says
I’d love to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
James Robert says
I would like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers
jeremy mclaughlin says
Would like to try the chicken melt sandwich.
Nancy says
First I would try their Angus Cheese Burgers. They have a nice selection of items.
barbg says
I would like to try all the whole wheat and whole grain varieties. I searched on their website and found they are in Indiana at my local kroger so great!
Anita Duvall says
I would really like to try the Italian Sausage Melt. This would be a good one to dip in Marinara Sauce for a snack or dinner.
Charlene S. says
I want to try the Gyro Sliders. Perfect quick lunch for my family.
Annette says
I’d like to try the Gyro Sliders.
Jackie says
I’d love to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
Thank you!
Lisa V. says
I would love to try the Italian sausage melts (already love the cheeseburger and chicken melt varieties)!
shelly peterson says
I want to try the Chicken Melts
Stephanie Phelps says
I would love to try the chicken melt it looks so good!
Ellie Wright says
I would like to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
Kristen says
I’d like to try the Chicken Melts.
KENNETH OHL says
Love to try the Italian Sausage Melts
elizabeth miller says
We would really love to try the chicken melts. They look really good and like one that my daughter would really love. Especially after seeing your picture with the pickles added on…yummy.
carol clark says
I would like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers
Shannon says
I’d like to try the Gyro Sliders. They all look good though.
Marty says
The pizza burgers would be a sure hit.
David says
The angus cheeseburgers look good, so I would like to try those.
shirley says
I would like to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
Lauren says
I would like to try the Chicken Melt.
Edye says
We’d like the chicken melt!
Susan Christy says
I want to try the Gyro Sliders.
Melissa T says
I want to try the Italian Sausage Melt
Cheryl says
I’d most like to try Sausage & Cheese.
Cindy Merrill says
I have not tried the Chicken melts yet but I would love to! I’d add a touch of spicy mustard.
Kris I. says
I would love to try the gyro sliders!!
Shelley Joy P says
I’d love to try the Angus Cheeseburgers the most 🙂
Amy Deeter says
The one i would love to try the most is Gyro sliders
Shannon Baas says
I have tried these and like the breakfast sandwiches.
Dana Rodriguez says
They all look delicious! I want to try the Sausage & Cheese first.
angela cunningham says
I would like to try the Gyro Sliders
Valerie Mabrey says
I have tried some of them but the Italian sausage one is new to me.
Ann Fantom says
I have never tried Sandwich Bros. products before, but I would like to try their Gyro Sliders
Steph says
I would like to try the Gyro Sliders.
Sarah Hall says
I would love to try the chicken melts. They look delicious.
Virginia says
I want to try the Angus cheeseburger. We like the sausage breakfast sandwiches.
Tracy Shafer says
I have tried them all and the chicken melts are my fave.
Michelle Donovan says
The Angus Cheeseburgers would be well enjoyed by all my family members.
Tari Lawson says
I would most like to try the Gyro Slider.
Ashley C says
I would love to try the chicken melts
Valencia says
I would like to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
Debbi Wellenstein says
I am most interested in the Chicken Melts.
William C Karcher says
They would make a good snack to take fishing with the boys !
Ashley Horner says
I would like the chicken melts and I think my kids would also.
meghan says
The Angus Cheeseburgers look good!
Char says
The chicken melt looks so good, thank you very much!
emily rainey says
Chicken melt, all the way, Dipped in ranch!
Kristyn M. says
The Italian Sausage Melt looks delicious!
Cindy Peterson says
Gyro Sliders are the ones that caught my taste buds first.
Steve Weber says
I would love to try the chicken melt sandwich the most.
Tracy Pryor says
I’d like to try the angus cheeseburgers.
Darlene Carbajal says
I want to try the pizza burgers.
Sherril McGann says
I would like to try Italian Sausage Melts.
Denise Blados says
I would love to try the gyro sliders. These look really good.
Natalie says
I would love to try the pizza burgers!
Diane Hamel says
I’d try the angus cheeseburger
Monique Rizzo says
The Italian sausage melts would be a hit!!
Thank you for the giveaway.
Breanne says
I would like to try the Italian Sausage Melt.
Michelle Coles says
I really want to try the Angus Cheeseburgers!
Brandy Graham says
I would really want to try the chicken melt
heather s says
The pizza burger sounds good
Grant D says
The Angus Cheeseburgers look delicious
Stephanie Liske says
I would like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers.
Rachel says
I would like to try the gyro sliders.
Will G says
I would like to try the chicken melt.
Rhonda Y says
I’d like to try the Gyro Sliders. Sounds interesting.
Janine H says
I’d like to try th chicken melt
Kayla Klontz says
I would most like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers.
Dan Dykstra says
The Italian sausage melts look like a nice quick breakfast sandwich. Add an egg too.
Teresa A Thompson says
I would like to try the chicken melt.
Jessica W. says
I would like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers. Sounds great.
kimrk56 says
I would like to try the Gyro Sliders
paige chandler says
I want to scarf the Italian Sausage Melts…drool
Kristi C says
I would like to try the chicken melts.
Nicole Martin says
I want to try the pizza burgers!!
rhop says
We would love the Chicken Melt or the Angus Cheeseburger!
Crissie Woolard says
I would love to try the Gyro Sliders. These look really good
Renee Grosskreuz says
I would like to try the chicken melt sandwich.
Lisa V. says
I’d like to try the Angus Cheeseburger.
susan smoaks says
i would like to try the chicken melt sandwich, it sounds really good.
Tammy Shelton says
I want to try the Chicken Melts. They look so good.
Richard Hicks says
I most want to try the Chicken Melts
Stacy Draeger-Brogan says
The angus cheeseburger looks really tasty.
T.A.D. says
The pizza burgers!
Lori Williams says
I want to try the Chicken Melt!!
Megan Swearingen says
I would like to try making the 100% chicken melt for a family meal when we have late nights away at sport activities.
rachel lee says
The chicken melt looks really good!
Fiona N says
I would love to try the Chicken Melts Flatbread Pocket Sandwiches
Thank You for the chance!
SHARON MARTIN says
WOULD LOVE TO TRY THE GYRO SLIDERS…..YUMMY!!!!
Barb Salame says
I would love to try tbe chicken melt or tbe gyros sandwich.
Kyl Neusch says
try the Angus Cheeseburgers
Christina O says
The chicken melts
Brittney House says
I would like to try the Italian sausage melts.
BusyWorkingMama says
The chicken melts look delicious. I’d like to try them.
Robin M says
The Italian Sausage Melts
Stephanie Larison says
I want to try out the angus cheeseburger first!
JG says
I haven’t tried the gyro yet, so that’s the one I’d most like to try.
DeeAnn S says
I’d like to try the Gyro Sliders first. Thanks.
Ed says
Gyro Sliders would be my choice.
Nicole C says
I would love to try the Angus Cheeseburgers.
Laurie Emerson says
I would most like to try the Chicken Melt.
Aaron B. says
I would like to try the Gyro Sliders.
Sandy Klocinski says
I would most like to try the Angus Cheeseburgers
Kathy Pease says
I would love to try the italian-sausage-melts
Azeem says
Love to try the Angus cheese burger
kelley wood says
I would love to try the angus cheeseburgers!!
Philip Lawrence says
I would like to try the Chicken Melts.
DanV says
I like the Italian Sausage Melts
Jerry Marquardt says
I like those delicious Italian Sausage Melts the most of all of the fine treats over at Sandwich Bros. of Wisconsin.
AEKZ2 says
l would like to try the Pizza Burgers
Trisha McKee says
I most want to try the Italian Sausage Melts.
Thomas Gibson says
I would try the chicken melts.
Leah Shumack says
We would love to try the chicken melt first! We’re a softball family so almost every night of the week we are at the ball field til dark!
Joy Venters says
I would like to try the gyro slider
Pickleball Portal says
great post. My teenage son plays basketball competitively and some nights doesn’t get back from practice until late in the evening so meals are a challenge. I like the snacky meal idea—we call it tapas night…sounds better than lots of little leftovers – but it’s a good way to clean out the fridge and he can fill up since he is starving after 2 hours of practice.