A new study has found that three quarters of parents are serving dinner earlier than planned to manage hangry kids during the dreaded after-school witching hour — and quick family dinners are the secret weaponZara Zubeidi16:40, 13 Jul 2026Three-quarters of parents have served dinner earlier than planned to avoid a pre-mealtime meltdown. A poll of 1,000 parents with children aged between two and 10 found a third have brought dinner forward to as early as 4pm or 4.30pm in an attempt to tackle rumbling tummies.‌The study showed one in five dread the after-school 'witching hour', with more than half (58%) saying their child announces they're starving the second they step through the door.‌To keep the chaos at bay, half of parents turn to the telly as a distraction, while 31% keep their little ones busy with activities such as colouring or tidying up toys while they rustle up dinner.‌Parents reckon they have just 32 minutes before hunger morphs into hanger, yet nearly half (46%) steer clear of offering after-school snacks for fear of ruining their child's appetite ahead of the evening meal.The research was commissioned by Frankfurter brand Herta, which is offering a 'try me for free' offer until 30th August. Briony May Williams, cook and TV presenter who has partnered with the brand said: "For many families, the time before dinner can be one of the busiest parts of the day, especially when their little ones are hungry.‌"As a parent myself, I know all too well how quickly a happy child can become a hangry one when dinner's taking a little longer than expected."However, cooking together gives families a few precious moments together, and even simple jobs like stirring, sprinkling cheese, or laying the table can help children feel involved, build their confidence in the kitchen, and distract them from their hungry tummies!".‌The research also found fancy mealtime prep often goes out of the window as 35% of parents surveyed by OnePoll regularly face repeated questions of "Is it ready yet?".While the typical evening meal requires more than 40 minutes to prepare, nearly a third (31%) end up making themselves something separate to eat later.Of those, almost half (48%) say it's too early for them to eat or they're not hungry yet, while 19% admit family mealtimes can be too chaotic.‌Overall, 48% believe quick and straightforward dinners help keep both their children - and themselves - happier. Pasta (53%), pizza (38%), and fish fingers and chips (37%) top the list of the quickest family favourites to prepare.Consequently, one in four often resort to 'double-dinners' - serving the same dish week after week to help keep hungry kids happy.Gemma Serdet, senior brand manager from Herta, which has created a family-friendly activity book to help parents make mealtime happier, said: "Our research highlights just how much pressure parents are under during the after-school rush.Article continues below"It's no wonder so many are adapting their routines – whether that's serving dinner earlier or finding ways to keep little ones occupied before dinner."Convenient, child-friendly, delicious dinner options can help take the stress out of family mealtimes. It's about more than saving time - it helps families take the time to connect and makes mealtimes much happier all round."