My Kids are Bottomless Pits...

[apnep]

Soooo,

I have DS12, DD9, and DS6.

I go to the grocery store, buy a ton of food, and get the kids things such as deli meats for sandwhiches, hot pockets (I only bought because they were on sale), Chef-Boyardee, Ramen, things they can make themselves. I always get lots of fruits, and I got lots of veggies that I cut up and put into a relish tray. I went shopping on Saturday morning. It's barely MONDAY and they have already eaten all the hot pockets, most of the Chef-Boyardee, a bag of chips (for the sandwiches), and no fruit and veggies.

Is it TOO much to ask, that they portion their food out and reach for something healthy as a snack instead of eating all the junk food first?! My intention was for them to eat ONE a day of the "easy entrees" for lunch and instead of grabbing fruit or veggies to snack on, they ate all the other stuff. THIS is why I don't like to buy that junk for them because it never fails, that is the ONLY thing they will eat. It makes me SOOOOO mad. And by the Wednesday when it's all gone they will be complaning, "There's nothing to eat!" What makes me mad, is that I make it perfectly clear they need to portion their food and they don't do it. I don't want to feel like the food police, but dang it the pre-made stuff adds up which is why I don't make a habit of buying it. AND they should be eating more produce. Grrrrrr!

I'm just venting...thanks.

Ang

 

[Junebugwv]

It isn't being the food police...it is parenting and you are doing a good job of getting the fruits and veggies into the house. Lay down some rules about how much or how often they can have the pre-packaged stuff and don't buy it if they violate the rules. If one of mine complained about "nothing to eat", that child would have a 24-hour ban starting the day when the pre-packaged stuff is bought.

 

[semisweetcocoa]

I so feel your pain, my dd7, ds10 and ds14 eat us out a house and home. I just bought three boxes of cereal on Friday and they are gone, then I bought two more today and guess what one box is gone already... I too don't buy much fastfood (hot pockets, froz pizza etc) you spend more and get less. Mine also eat all the junk first then complain there is nothing to eat. I really don't know what to do!!!!

 

[Local_Girl]

Ahhh...summer. I so know what you mean! I have a DS16 and a DD14. I hear "I'm hungry" several times a day! What I save in gas not driving them to and from school, etc. goes straight to the food budget for the summer. One thing I've done to stretch out the "good stuff" is to hide some of it. I tuck stuff away, somewhere out of the general pantry/fridge area and only put things out every once in awhile, being careful not to divulge my hiding spots. This works well with BOGO items, as I can put one out and hide the other one away for a few days. Yeah, it's a bit of a pain, but I was tired of the kids opening up a box of crackers as a meal...

 

[apnep]

I just want to know that I'm not giving them a food complex by harping on them constantly (that's so silly of me) but they drive me nuts.

Last week I got the Chef-Boyardee and my eldest ate almost all of them and the other two were lucky to get any. This week I got them and specifically said, "You each get three, and when they are gone, they are gone." I thought it would help them to ration it better. Sigh...I think I'm just going to have put signs up in the kitchen on the panty door and the fridge with their allotment for the day like a nutritionist would do!

Thanks, it helps knowing I'm not the only one going through this.

Ang

 

[apnep]

...I hear "I'm hungry" several times a day!

Every time I hear that I cringe!

Ang

 

[enchantingodin]

My kids are the same way! I've started portioning out and use a LOT of the snack size zip top bags. For things like cereal, goldfish, cookies, etc. And other stuff like yogurt, fruit cups or pudding I use a sharpie to write their name and the day on it. Fresh fruit and veggies I tell them they can have as much as they want.

 

[*BTMRR*]

My kids are the same way! I've started portioning out and use a LOT of the snack size zip top bags. For things like cereal, goldfish, cookies, etc. And other stuff like yogurt, fruit cups or pudding I use a sharpie to write their name and the day on it. Fresh fruit and veggies I tell them they can have as much as they want.

I love these ideas.
I have four little bottomless pits in this family and I swear I hear "can I have something to eat?" from someone every 15-20 minutes throughout the day.
In the summertime with constant swimming and playing outdoors, their appetites are HUGE.

 

[apnep]

I use a sharpie to write their name and the day on it.

This is a good idea.

 

[tigger51276]

My DD6 is always telling me she's hungry. Like tonight she had a hot dog with a handful of pretzels and then said she was still hungry, so I let her have another hot dog with a small handful of cheez its, guess what after that she was still hungry?!?! I can't even eat that much at once.
During the day, my DD6 knows that if she wants a snack or is still hungry after eating she can eat as many raw carrots (she loves them) as she likes, an apple, a banana or whatever other fruit I have on hand. Carrots, apples, bananas and blueberries are staples in house, junkfood is a rarity and happily when I tell her she can have a nice BIG apple or as many carrots as she wants OR a small handful of cheez its or a couple of small cookies, quantity almost always wins.

 

[Calliaz]

I think you're not offering enough good quality protein. I can eat a package of ramen and not feel full because there's no real protein or other nutrition. Even if you're offering fruits and veggies, that's not enough to signal our brains that we're full. We need good quality fats and proteins for that. It's not cheap, but grilled chicken, hummus, eggs, oatmeal, baked potatoes with shredded cheese and veggies or turkey chili, beans, or popcorn are really good for making you feel full.

I don't eat like a saint at all--and my son eats lean pockets for breakfast a few days a week. I've just noticed that if I focus on making really good meals it cuts down on the snacking and the expensive processed foods. I really have to work at it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think you are expecting too much if you want kids that age to avoid the tempting junk food and make themselves something healthy. Make it easy for them by not buying any of the premade, bad for you items. At those ages you should be able to buy much healthier options that they could make themselves. If they do not know how yet, spend a couple of afternoons next weekend teaching them. Mine 2 could make all of the following alone (or alone with very little help--like they needed help picking up the pot to drain the pasta) by kindergarten (started at age 4) and all would work for lunches. The older two could certainly help the younger one with the stove/draining water:

quesadilla
grilled cheese
deli meat sandwhiches (get whole grain bread) or wraps
pasta with jarred sauce
chili (from canned beans and tomoatoes with salsa, etc)
beans and rice (canned beans again)
huevos rancheros
boiled eggs
ravioli or tortilini (fresh or frozen--cook and add a basic jarred sauce)
bagel with cream cheese
PBJ


Good sides (in addition to fruits and veggies):
pretzles (much better than chips)
popcorn (teach them to pop it themselves on the stove in olive oil)
yogurt
applesauce
string cheese/baby bels etc (expect those to run out early in the week too)
salsa (great to dip veggies in) or hummus
nuts

I am sure you can think of plenty more Seriously they are going for the easiest stuff--make it all a little work and all healthy options. Fruit goes much faster when it is the easiest thing to preapre

If you wish to keep buying the prepackaged things, I think your idea of labeling whose is whose is good. After that, let them know there is enough food for the week and you will NOT be buying more. If they eat all of the junk on Monday then they can fill up on lots of fruit, etc later in the week. If they tell you there is nothing to eat go open a cupboard/fridge look inside blankly, shrug and say "looks like plenty of food to me." Repeat as needed (maybe all summer).

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My kids do this, too, although mostly it's my 6yo now. He's the most active and he eats constantly. When my kids were younger they always had to ask for snacks so it has become habit, my 14yo still asks if she can have one, it makes it a little easier because I know what they're eating.

We also have food limits, if I didn't with 5 kids one kid would eat all of something, then the others wouldn't get any. So if the kids are having something they will ask me what the limit is, for example, they're allowed 3 cookies.

My DD will eat something for lunch and still be hungry, instead of letting her cook something else she has to have some fruit or veggies for a side.

I also try to make sure the healthy stuff is easier to get than the unhealthy. If I buy a bag of chips, I will put them on top of the fridge while there is a bowl of apples right there on the counter. Instead of putting the sliced veggies in the drawer in the fridge I put them at eye level.

Oh, and I also don't allow them to eat out of the package. They have to get a bowl or baggie, that way we portion it out. (I kept the little Gerber bowls from when they were babies, they work wonderfully for crackers, cereal to snack on, etc.).

Even with doing this stuff, the junk food usually goes first .

 

[Bete]

Kids want to grab and go or do very little to get food satisfaction.

You need to make sandwiches ahead of time and store them in zip lock or plastic containers. Buy better bread; bread can be very filling. If they don't eat the sandwiches that day then it becomes your lunch for work, etc. It doesn't always have to be meat sandwiches, either. Cheese, egg salad, and peanut butter can work, too. Find out what they like here. Hot dogs are cheap and it's not rocket science to boil water and cook them. I think the 12 year old could handle this; give an incentive for doing this for everyone, if needed.

Not sure but maybe they would eat cottage cheese especially with fruit mixed in. Try soups, too. I make my own homemade vegetable soup starting with vegetable juice as my broth; it's quick to do this and it's easy. After it's cooked I add cooked rice or noodles which is very filling.

Everyone needs to understand that kids can eat more than adults at times; they are growing and need more nourishment.

What you do buy from the store should not be brand names, either. There are many equivalent products without buying brands. If you have an Aldi grocery store start using them, for example.

When you cook meals don't go for easy. Use filler products to stretch the food budget like rice and noodles. Beans are great for you and cheaper than meat; I've started to add it to pasta dishes. No one complains about having the extra ingredient. Feed them well when you are home doing the cooking and they won't be as hungry when you are gone or whatever. Also, show by example and start eating the same foods as you expect them to eat; you can probably do this over weekends.

If plan A is not working for you then you need a plan B.

 

[3mickeymom]

My son plays Pop Warner Football(which he loves) so he must maintain a certain weight to play. Our rule for the last few summers is one junk snack a day. If he eats some cookies with his lunch, then fruit/veggies for all other snacks. If we plan on having a treat from the ice cream man after dinner, we don't eat junk all day. It is a good life lesson that I hope he carries with him throughout his life.

 

[hsmamato2]

funny...all kids are the same I recommend you STOP buying the junkfood you don't want them to eat. processed canned foods,hot pockets,hotdogs,cheezits etc are JUNKFOOD. the kids are hungry 10 minutes after eating this trash.
Fill your shelves with basic foods- fruits,veggies,yogurts(the good ones) hummus,I buy boxes of plain crackers and corn chips, jars of pure salsa,blocks of fresh cheddar,etc.
Anytime the kids want they can make a quesadilla,or dip crackers in hummus,or eat carrots or cucumbers...etc etc.
I bought some junky cereal last week,ds2 who eats a LOT,he actually feels ill about 1/2 hour after eating this stuff,instead of minimally filling him, it actually seems to rev up his digestion (sugar and white flours) then he feels sick and hungry,actually eating more afterward to feel better.......
BTW,I'm known as the 'mean mom' b/c 'all the better moms' have their houses stocked with junkfood like doritos and frozen micro foods.....
Now I will still get junkfood,but it's always measured doses,as in 'we're at the store,we'll get some doritos, or a candybar' but that one bag lasts 10 minutes,and we don't go back to the store for at least a week,so it's not stocked in the house,just for occasional treats.

 

[eliza61]

I just want to know that I'm not giving them a food complex by harping on them constantly (that's so silly of me) but they drive me nuts.

Last week I got the Chef-Boyardee and my eldest ate almost all of them and the other two were lucky to get any. This week I got them and specifically said, "You each get three, and when they are gone, they are gone." I thought it would help them to ration it better. Sigh...I think I'm just going to have put signs up in the kitchen on the panty door and the fridge with their allotment for the day like a nutritionist would do!

Thanks, it helps knowing I'm not the only one going through this.

Ang

Dear Ang,

Unfortunately I have bad news for you. It's only going to get worse. My son came home from college in May. My food bill has gone up $200 bucks. and I'm telling you, we are not eating steaks.

I made a roast chicken Sunday for dinner, my husband and I had a party to go to so we were not eating at home. Stupid me, I'm thinking no problem this meal will last 2 nights. My 2 sons ate an entire roast chicken, a ton of broccoli and mac and cheese.

So it's just not junk food. I do buy treats but generally when it's gone that it, no more until I go shopping again. My youngest will slice 3 apples and eat it with a tub of peanut butter.

I feel your pain.

 

[sk!mom]

Don't go back to the store. If all that's left is fruit and veggies then they'll have no choice but to snack on those. No reason to get mad or frustrated.

I go to the store once a week. I only make extra trips if something essential was forgotten or is now needed. I buy lots of produce. We eat the berries and things that don't last as long first. My family knows that I won't be going back and no one expects me too. I'm sure they eat their favorite things first but that doesn't matter to me- why does it bother you?

 

[gillenkl]

I'm the food police in my house because I'm the parent. I control the purchase of food, how much you eat and when. If I didn't we'd probably spend twice as much on groceries every week. I prepare and serve the food because I like doing it and I'm a stay-at-home so I'm there all the time. We have breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2-3 snacks per day.

 

[VAfamily1998]

funny...all kids are the same I recommend you STOP buying the junkfood you don't want them to eat. processed canned foods,hot pockets,hotdogs,cheezits etc are JUNKFOOD. the kids are hungry 10 minutes after eating this trash.
Fill your shelves with basic foods- fruits,veggies,yogurts(the good ones) hummus,I buy boxes of plain crackers and corn chips, jars of pure salsa,blocks of fresh cheddar,etc.