How to have the best Sunday in LA according to Nick Lechey

Over the course of his decades-long career, Nick Lachey has done it all in Hollywood — he’s acted, he’s released solo albums, he’s fronted campaigns with brands (including Purina ONE) and he’s dominated the reality TV circuit, hosting the hit shows “Ultimate,” “His B-Lintouch” and “Perfect Mom,” which wrapped its ninth season on USA last week.

In Sunday Fund, the people of LA give us a play-through of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life this weekend.

But through it all, he keeps returning to a passion project: 98 Degrees, the boy band that catapulted him to stardom in the late ’90s.

“I’m really lucky to be a part of some incredible shows,” says Lechey. “But really it all comes down to the band for me. I still love doing it and performing with these guys, so hopefully it will last for a long time.”

Earlier this year, 98 Degrees released their first non-Christmas album in more than a decade, “Full Circle.” It features reworkings of their most popular songs – including “I Do (Cherish You)” and “The Hardest Thing” – along with five new tracks.

Outside of work, what’s important in Lachie’s life is “being a dad and being there for my kids and really being involved in their lives.” He and his wife, Vanessa Lachey, who is also his “Love Is Blind” co-host, have three young children: Camden, Phoenix and Brooklyn.

The Cincinnati native and die-hard Bengals fan joins us for his Perfect Sunday in LA, where he’s lived for more than 20 years. This includes football (of course), a delicious dinner with waffles, relaxing on Malibu Beach and reading a print copy of the LA Times — an activity we can totally get behind.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

7.30am: Coffee and La Times

I usually wake up around 7 or 7:30 in the morning when the kids do, so it’s usually on the weekends. The first thing I do on Sundays is get a cup of coffee. I’m kind of old school. I’m still getting print paper. So I’m going to walk out my door and go grab my LA Times and my cup of coffee, and hopefully have a few moments to read the paper before my kids wake up and harass me.

9am: Football time

Are we in football season? This is a very important question. If it’s my dream Sunday we’re in football season so around 8:30 or 9 in the morning, I turn on “NFL Countdown” and we’re ready for Sunday’s games. The Cincinnati Bengals are my team. I grew up in Cincinnati so I’m kind of a born fan, if you will. Now, Bengalis are very good. For most of my life, they were absolutely horrible and I just stuck with them, but it’s kind of fun now that they’re actually competing. [laughs].

12:00 p.m.: Indulge in waffles for dinner

We leave in the afternoon and are ready for lunch. A place where my family and I like to have lunch or maybe a late dinner More than Waffleswhich is kind of the Encino Institute, if you will. I usually have a skillet or an omelette, then combine it with a waffle. I don’t eat that well, but if you ever eat badly, Sunday is the day to do it, so you have to get the waffle. You should get whipped cream and strawberries. Go for broke.

2pm: Hanging out on the beach

Good Sunday goes to the beach. I will take the children to him Zuma See the ocean for a little bit even if it’s just a car. It’s nice to drive down this road, see the water and feel the wind on your face. I’m not a big water person. If I’m in the Caribbean or somewhere, maybe. [laughs] It’s a little chilly for me, so I’m more of a beach-sand-and-scene kind of person.

5pm: Burritos and marg for dinner

Let’s go back home to take a shower and hit it again Casa Vega. This is another one of my favorites in the valley. My whole family loves it. I love the smothered oven-style chicken burrito. You have to get chips and gag. You should get the house margarita mix, no salt, and you’re good to go.

8 pm: Family meeting

We always have a family meeting on Sunday night to get ready for the week and talk about what’s going on. So we’ll bring the family back home, sit down with the kids, and go over the expectations for the week and plan it out. Then you’re in the shower and bath time because it’s a school night.

10 o’clock: Parenting time

Once the kids are down, maybe Vanessa and I will attend whatever show we’re watching at the moment. This is a good cap for Sunday. I just finished watching “Perfect Match” on Netflix, which is a classic. I absolutely love Taylor Sheridan [shows]. I’ve seen them all before.