Dinner issues

 What I would do is give her a small "snack only" at that time at the table so she can sit with her Dad.  Give her some water with it.  Make sure it's not right before she goes to bed.  I usually measure snacks and put them in a kids size bowl so the amount is controlled. 

We're the same way because DH gets home around 8.  At that point, we give DD a little something because I don't think she asks because she's necessarily hungry but rather she does it so she can sit with him while he eats. 

Save her bedtime snack for then. It may make for a nice time for family conversation!  

I would either keep a small portion of her dinner aside to eat with you, or offer her a snack such as yogurt. If you eat dessert at dinner, you could save that for her to eat with you.

save her bed time snack for when she gets home if she wants to eat when he does or give her fruit to eat.

let her eat with him.

I would give a little something to eat, just not too much.

Give her a snack and let her eat with him. It sounds like she's just trying to emulate her daddy and spend time with him. (: Really cute, actually.

Family dinner is so important. It's too bad that your husband's schedule is so late. I would suggest giving the daughter only a healthy snack at her "dinner time" and then letting her eat dinner with your husband.  If this makes her bedtime very late, she may need to take a longer nap, or a nap after school... 

Keep the healthy snack really good foods.  Not cookies, but perhaps two or three food groups, like cheese, crackers and grapes.  That way, if she just plays with her dinner because it's so late or she's over-tired, she at least has something nutritious in her belly.

Making family dinner time a tradition, and keeping it fun, a time when everyone can talk about their day and share their feelings, will bind your family closer together.  It's definitely worth the effort.

 i would just let her have a lil snack when he comes home, that way she can sit with him at the table.  whether its cheese n crackers, or a yogurt, banana, apple with peanut butter..something small, and healthy :)