Football, football, football. Fall is for football in our house. Which means I plan our lives around football. We go to high school games on Monday and Friday nights, usually head to our favorite college team’s game on Saturday and have four NFL games on simultaneously on Sundays. Such is life with my giants.
When I plan the week’s meals, the football schedule goes on the calendar first. I start by thinking about who I’m feeding instead of what I’m feeding.
On Henry’s game nights, I don’t try to cook. On Mondays, we grab a quick bite on the way home because Henry is starving and I’m pooped. On Fridays, both boys usually have post-game plans with friends, so Jon and I happily have cereal or ice cream for dinner. Sunday is when I get a head start on feeding everybody again.
Here’s a glimpse at a typical football week in the giants’ household.
The Week’s Menu
Sunday—NFL Football
Breakfast: Football Season Protein Waffles (Duh!)
Tailgate snacks: Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip, Mixed Olive Tapenade and Buttery Garlic Crostinitini (Cause we’re fancy!)
Dinner: Blackened Chicken Fettucini Alfredo with roasted broccoli
Monday—JV Football
Takeout after the game. Can you say Chipotle?
Tuesday—Everybody Home
Sandwich night~Pastrami Reubens with Homemade Russian Dressing
Wednesday—Everybody Home
Brown butter gnocchi with Brussels sprouts—a great 30-minute meal.
Thursday—Henry’s Team Dinner
Green Chile Chicken Soup for Hunter and the rest of us at home.
Friday—Varsity Football
Post-game plans for the boys. An impressively uncomplicated dinner for Jon and me.
Saturday—Busy, Busy!
Henry has a football workout, Hunter has work, and we head to a college game that evening. Game dogs for everyone!
Weekday Breakfasts
No-Peel Boiled Eggs and protein yogurt bowls.
Lunches
Mediterranean Tomato-Cucumber Salad and sandwiches for Jon; Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Raisins for me.
Who, What, Where and When?
For my planning purposes, the calendar always sets the menu. For instance, Henry has team dinner on Thursdays so I make something ahead of time that Hunter loves for Thursday. This is usually Green Chile Chicken Soup. Tuesdays and Wednesdays we are all home but after teaching all day, I don’t plan complicated or time-consuming meals. 30-minute meals like Pastrami Reubens with Homemade Russian Dressing or toasty, earthy brown butter gnocchi and Brussel sprouts get everybody fed and happy without a huge fuss.
Beyond dinner, I make sure the fridge and pantry have good grab-and-go options. For the boys, that means protein shakes, honey-chipotle chicken strips, cheese sticks and rice bowl fixings. For me, it’s quick protein hits like my make-ahead yogurt bowls and Boiled Eggs.
Jon is the king of leftovers and sometimes enjoys a meal better the second day. I also make a salad he loves, like my Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad, and keep avocados and good bread around for breakfast avocado toast.
A Little (or Lottta) Sunday Prep
I cooked A LOT this Sunday. Protein waffles for breakfast, then Spinach-Artichoke Dip and Mixed Olive Tapenade with Buttery Garlic Costini for game snacks. I chopped, tossed, dressed, peeled, tasted and mixed my day away.
By Sunday night, the fridge was stocked with portioned three-bean and tomato-cucumber salads, protein yogurt bowls for breakfast and ready-to-roll boiled eggs. The beef and cabbage stir-fry was prepped. Stock was made and ready to become Green Chile Chicken Soup.
Sit-Down Sunday Supper
On Sundays, I love to cook something special. Something flavorful and filling that I enjoy taking the time to prepare. This week, it’s Blackened Chicken Fettucini Alfredo.
Our lives this time of year are so busy that Sundays are sacred. The boys spend the day watching football with their dad between homework and football workouts, and I try to make some tailgate snacks they love. It makes me happy to see them sort of “bro out” together, flung all over the couches, checking fantasy scores and yelling at the TV.
I piddle in the kitchen, doing the work that needs doing for a smooth week. And then we come together for Sunday dinner. We may not sit there long, but we are all face to face, and the world slows down for just a minute.
I love this time of year.