Wholesome meals are a big part of the game

America's favorite pastime is played out on lush green fields -- and plenty of dusty ones -- by kids ages 6 to 18, cheered on by crowds of devoted, if sometimes exhausted, parents shouting from the sidelines. Little League can look like a pretty ideal life. That is, if you don't hear the quieter strains of conversation among some of the adults, which go something like this: "We can't have takeout pizza again" or "I hope they'll eat frozen burritos."

Nightly games and practices interfere with everyone's dinner hour. It's enough of a challenge to serve healthy meals, but it seems particularly tricky during baseball season, when games tend to start between 5:00 and 5:30 in the afternoon and go on for hours. If both parents attend the games, or one works late, nobody is minding the stove. And by the time the post-game crowd gets home, the most appealing options are those that can get to the table quickest.

The Rothman family of Newton has been living with this dilemma since their eldest son, Max, now 14, started playing baseball when he was 5. Now all four kids play -- Max and Alec, 12, for their middle school's team; Alec and Chloe, 10, for the majors division of Newton East Little League (Chloe is the only girl in the division); and Troy, 8, for the league's minors division. Frequently, the siblings' games overlap or run back to back.

As her children's dedicated cheerleader, Sally Rothman often begins her baseball day when her workday ends. An elementary school teacher, she leaves her school in time to pick up Troy and Chloe at their schools, then hustles them across town to watch Max and Alec's game. Frequently, she and the younger children have to leave before the final inning so Chloe or Troy, or both, can get ready for their own games.

"Sometimes we don't get home until 7:30 or 8," says Sally. "We'll get pizza or other takeout, or I'll make sandwiches or pasta -- anything that's quick and easy." On days when the kids just have practice, she has time to prepare dinner before they get home. And sometimes, if her husband, Ira, is at a game, she'll leave early to prepare a more substantial meal.

Bruce and Virginia Gutierrez, of Natick, are more recent recruits to the Little League scene. Their sons, Peter, 9, and Mark, 8, play in the Natick Little League. Gutierrez, who owns a software consulting firm and frequently works out of his home, coaches his older son's team.

"We're learning as we go," he says of the family's dinner efforts during this hectic time. "I try to give them a snack -- yogurt, an apple, banana, or bagel -- before the game. We've found it's pretty critical."

After the games, which sometimes end near 8 p.m., the Gutierrezes feed the boys a light supper of oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, or a quick pasta. "It has to be a makeshift meal," says Gutierrez. As for the parents, "we wing it," he says. "We essentially shovel down whatever we can."

Scenes like these are familiar to thousands of families this time of year. But Janice Newell Bissex and Liz Weiss, authors of "The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers," maintain that it is possible to keep your family well fed during baseball season. All it takes is a well-stocked pantry and a repertoire of fast, easy dishes.

Bissex and Weiss are both registered dietitians and moms. "We don't want baseball to get in the way of nutrition. [Keeping our children well fed] is a big responsibility we have as parents," says Weiss, adding, "Moms, please remember to eat, too."

The women advocate hearty, healthy snacks for kids after school. "You want something that will tide them over," says Bissex. Macaroni and cheese is popular in both their houses, and it's OK if it comes from a box. But "choose an all-natural brand," advises Weiss, who adds peas to the version she makes for 5-year-old Josh. Bissex's 11- and 4-year-old daughters, Carolyn and Leah, prefer a Tex-Mex version, with black beans, corn (canned or frozen), and salsa. "Now it's not just mac and cheese. It's great nutrition to keep them energized," she says.

A fruit smoothie with whole-grain crackers or popcorn on the side is another nutritious option. "We do a lot of wraps," says Bissex, who spreads refried beans on a flour tortilla, places a nitrite-free hot dog in the middle, sprinkles it with low-fat cheese, rolls it up, and heats it in the microwave.

After games, "you want a 15-minute meal," says Weiss. Little League season is a magical time for kids, and should be for parents, too. You don't have to "toss nutrition to the wind," Weiss notes. "Be a good planner. Have lots of healthy grab-and-go things." And enjoy the games.