dinner ideas for someone who goes to the gym at night?

I am one of the many people that has a long commute and cannot bring myself to work out in the morning. So, I get home from work around 7:00 grab something to eat quick and dont get home from the gym until about 9:30. I know its not good to eat big meals that late so i snack. I have been eating a banana or some sort of quick zone bar before I go and a 100 calorie bag of popcorn or a protein shake after .

Does anyone have a suggestion for small meals/snacks that I can replace dinner with either before I go to the gym or after I get back? Should I be eating after the gym while im trying to lose weight?

Frozen food: Bird's Eye Viola (Chicken and Roasted Garlic flavor) has only 120 cal. per serving. There are 2.5 servings in a bag, so my husband and i split it (180 cal each). All it is is lean protein (white chicken) and vegetables in sauce. You microwave it for like 5 mins. (and it's really good on some instant mashed potatoes, if your cool w/ some carbs). it's our "Something Easy" when i don't feel like cooking.

What time are you going to bed. I wouldn't think it would be good to be eating within 3 hours of going to bed!!! I would definately not be drinking a protein shake at night. If your not burning those calories after you drink it and before you go to sleep then you could actually gain weight.

I get back from the gym around 9 or 9:30 at night, my protein shakes are soy, low carb and 100 calories. After a vigorous work out, I need something, maybe protein shake isnt the way to go? I should also mention that I leave about 400 calories for after work and after the gym in my daily intake. Is this wrong? Should I force myself to eat more throughout the day so im not so hungry before the gym and then a small snack of fruits or veggies? I've always known that eating late is bad, but I also thought that after a vigorous workout, you need to replenish your body.

My workouts consist of an hour of cardio where I usually burn 1000 calories and then an hour of lifting. I allow myself 1200-1300 calories each day

When I was working I always had home cooked meals in the freezer. I'd freeze portions of meats, vegetables, rice, whatever. I could arrange a platter on a microwave plate and have a nice hot meal in a few minutes.

I'm all for preparation ahead of time.

On hot days my supper of choice was a bowl of cold cereal and frozen berries with skim milk.

I'm a big fan of the special K red berries cereal for dinners!