So I am staring down the barrel of six LONG weeks and I know that one of the most effective management strategies is keeping them fed! I think the phrase " MUUUUUUUM I'm HUUUUNGRY" strikes fear into the hearts of most of us!

Care to share your ideas, mine all get a bit boring and receptive and bored is a word I am really trying to avoid during the holidays

Pikelets! Easy to make (although a little time-consuming), but generally go down really well with kids (and adults).

Make their own fruit/marshmallow kebabs - keeps them occupied and fed, and reasonably cheap!

Good luck.

I've found having a strict routine around food really useful... I figure that they are used to having set times at school so I kind of keep to those, making them a fraction earlier to suit the littlest one. So they get breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. If we are out then I make up a full lunch box for them with enough for morning tea and lunch and they have to finish that before they have any more food.

If I offer food and they refuse then that's it, I don't get up half an hour later to make more food. I am a bit mean like that otherwise I really would spend my entire day getting food for everyone.

I find that having something like toast for lunch quite good as it keeps them busy making, spreading and cutting .

If the kids don't finish their snacks then they can have them when they feel like it until the next meal but I am not producing more food if they don't like it. If they complain of hunger between times I suggest a drink of water and might give them milk once or twice if they haven't had any with the meal.

Generally I do the normal crackers, fruit, muffins, biscuits, sandwiches, toasties, pikelets sometimes. I figure there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple with fruit and crackers and cheese.

Keel with the school times and if they are hungry offer them some water or a drink or milk/juice first. Also keep ice blocks handy if it's hot

BBB it's the same in our house The kids eat so much when they are home (which is great because they are soooo skinny) but I do get sick of it. Generally I find lunchtime the worst because I don't really feel like getting them anything (I don't eat lunch) but of course I do. I usually make nachos, sushi (if I can be bothered), toasted sandwiches... feel free to add to that list I need some more ideas... I often buy them something from the bakery when DS3 is at daycare otherwise I make muffins, piklets, biscuits (I often mix up the M&M biscuit recipe and keep it in the fridge and cook a few cookies each day). Otherwise when I'm being completely slack I let them graze all day on chips, store bought biscuits, crackers, fruit etc. I don't even know how you guys keep them from helping themselves out of the cupboards ...what can I say I'm completely slack in the food department

When I was a kid, we were only ever allowed:
breakfast
lunch
dinner
water/raro

We didnt ever complain of being hungry, we were too busy playing in the street or just knew better than to say "we are hungry". Its more of a boredom thing than an actual hunger, so keep them busy and hydrated.

Great ideas on here everyone thanks. 3boys, my 2 boys seem to have hollow legs and are hungry every 5 minutes! might try some of your flash lunches to see if that will keep them going a bit longer.

Cheese toasted sandwiches or party pies/tom sauce are a school holiday fav. Box of 24 party pies her are only $5 bargin and lasts for ages in the freezer.

I try to do things that don't involve too much effort, I hate feeding the kids over the holidays, I am hopeless with actually remembering to feed them.. they definitely have to remind me. I really don't mind if they graze, as long as they eat something. Otherwise I'll do:
Sausage Rolls
Pikelets
Toasted Sammies
Pita Bread Pizzas
2min Noodles
Sammies

oh i hear you, i dont really eat lunch lunch and certainly not at 12oclock lol so i need reminding too.
i like to give them quite a filling lunch so it sees them through, my #2 is ALWAYS hungry and Id always be cleaning up after him if i didn't fill him (we get ants something chronic so i need to clean up really well after everyone eats....hence doubly why i cant be bothered doing lots of grazing /small snacks lol.
a favourite is eggs benedict - english muffins, bacon (or i sometimes just grill some ham), spinach, tomatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce...fills em up, and easy to do
or they quite like cottage cheese and tomatoes grilled on english muffins,

-oooh nachos good idea hadn't thoght of that

the little girl i look after over the holidays is the most amazing eater and she's the same really hard to fill - so we try to do something like homemade pizzas with all the goodies, wraps, salad sandwiches/fruit/baking etc etc
ooooh ooooh and MILKSHAKES - awesomely easy liquidates and fills them all in one when you are only giving them a normal no frills meal