Alright team, let me walk you through how I tackled planning meals for our under-12s football club last season. Man, it was chaotic trying to feed those hungry kids after practice without losing my mind or breaking the bank!
First Thing I Did Was Panic
Seriously. Picture this: It’s Monday night, first practice is Wednesday, and Coach Dave hits me up. “Hey, can you sort snacks?” No warning. Nada. I stared at my empty fridge like it held the answers. Big mistake.
Grabbing Paper Like A Maniac
I didn’t overthink tools. Snatched a pen and the closest thing near me – my kid’s homework notebook (sorry, Timmy!). Started scribbling down stuff I knew the kids usually ate without whining:
- Bananas (always gone first)
- Those cheap orange slices
- Plain water bottles (juice boxes ended up spilled everywhere last year)
- Peanut butter sandwiches (checking for allergies first though!)
Looked at my messy list. Realised I had zero plan for amounts. Twenty kids? Thirty? Coach Dave just shrugged. “Around twenty? Maybe?” Helpful.
Getting Real With Numbers (& My Wallet)
Went digging. Found last season’s sign-up sheet. Counted. 23 players. Okay, breathing gets easier. Then I hit the supermarket Tuesday afternoon, rush hour madness. My plan?
- Buy bananas. Lots.
- Find the cheapest big pack of oranges (got kinda lost in the produce aisle).
- Water bottles – huge 24-pack on offer, yes!
- Bread, peanut butter, jam. Staples.
- Threw in a couple bags of pretzels too. Bargain bin!
Stood in line sweating, hoping it was enough, hoping it wasn’t too much. My budget? Basically whatever was in my wallet after paying for gas.
Game Day Disaster (Almost)
Practice night rolls around. Kids go wild. I set up a shaky table near the pitch. First kid grabs two bananas. Chaos begins. Peanut butter sandwiches vanish faster than I can blink. Orange slices? Gone. Water bottles? Kids dropping them like soccer balls. Learned fast: Next time, portion before! Hand stuff out one by one. Felt like a traffic cop directing hungry tigers.
The “Aha!” Moment & Tiny Fixes
After surviving, I sat down with my crumpled notebook. Realised I needed:
- A permanent list of reliable, cheap stuff kids actually eat.
- A headcount WEEKLY from Coach Dave. Non-negotiable.
- Portioning things beforehand (sandwiches cut, fruit bagged).
- A helper! Dragged my reluctant teenager next time. “Teamwork” he mumbled.
Also started keeping a tiny stash for players who showed up late or whose parents forgot snack money. Just an extra banana or two. Felt good.
Why Bother?
Honestly? Watching those kids scarf down snacks after running their hearts out, grinning… it beats stressing over it any day. It doesn’t need a chef or fancy spreadsheet. It needs grit, a shopping list, and maybe bribing a teen helper with leftover pretzels. Simple food keeps it real for the kids, and keeps us coaches from burning out before halftime!
