My Kids are Bottomless Pits...

[Grandmax3]

My kids did this at ages 9/11/13. When my husbands paycheck went from 2times a month to once a month, I warned the kids that I could buy X number of snack and easy foods. When they were gone, there was no money till the next month. Everything I bought was gone in four days, and they complained. There was no money for new groceries. The next month amazingly the food lasted thru most of the month. They were then very careful to make it last.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I have this problem too. A few weeks back, ice cream bars were on sale, so I stocked up. They were gone by the end of the week! I figured they would last a month! I learned my lesson. I now only buy a certain number of snack items a week and when they are gone, they are gone.

Fruit is another hard to keep item in our house. Strawberries and bananas are gone in less than a day at my house. But at least fruit is healthier than ice cream though.

 

[apnep]

...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.

When I say, "Go eat an apple, banana, strawberries..." magically, mine are NOT hungry. Terds.

Ang

 

[apnep]

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...

...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.

I know all all about nutrition, believe me. The point is, I want THEM to get their own stuff for lunch and for them, having this junk is like a treat. They get plenty of good protien for breakfast and dinner so I was trying to indulge their "junk food" desires.

 

[gregokdisney]

My kids are 11 and 8. I do all of the cooking & serving of meals, but they are allowed to get snacks themselves. They are only allowed to get snacks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. without asking. All other times, they have to ask.

The 10 a.m. snack has to be fruit or something healthier like string cheese or wheat crackers or something. The 2 p.m. snack can be popsicles or something. I also don't allow chips between meals, because they last longer as a side for lunch.

You may have to draw up a snack chart and lay down some rules about what they can eat and when. My kids were asking me for food all day long until I made the 10 and 2 rule. I think they were just asking for something to eat when they were bored. It's helped a lot.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

How do they feel about leftovers? You could consider making extra pasta, and putting the leftovers w/ meat sauce in the fridge--a minute or so in the microwave, and it's a tasty lunch. Extra grilled meat could go over salad or used in soup.

Or, the older one could certainly make simple meals--pasta with jarred sauce is simple, as is mac and cheese, grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, etc.

As to the junky stuff--I probably would buy very limited quantities, and when it's gone, that's it. I do like the labelling idea if you have one kid that eats everything.

I do make an effort to find out what healthy things my kids like. DD15 isn't much for meat, so she has her own jar of peanut butter that she eats straight on a spoon (doctor's orders, believe it or not). I also get her yogurt, hummus, and soy bars--not cheap, but she's a runner and a dancer, and I worry about calories/protein/calcium. DS13 could eat tuna every day. It's cheap enough, so I let him. DD7 loves broccoli, and 12-grain bread (not together), She's a huge pasta fan, so I make a big deal out of getting different shapes. DS4 is less of an issue because he needs supervision, but again, I try to get healthy things that he likes.

Final note--consider getting a children's cookbook. You might be surprised what your kids will eat, if they picked out the recipe and made it themselves.

 

[NVDisMom]

Its hard, I know. Two girls here, 11 and 13. I stopped buying junk food. We always have produce, plain yogurt, homemade granola, hummus, salsa, oatmeal, eggs, milk, cheese, tortillas, ww bread, etc in the house. Have at it! The only prepackaged foods I keep around are canned soups and some crackers. We tried the make and freeze thing, but nobody wants to wait for it to warm up from frozen, hubby included. So, the canned soup is my compromise. Crackers are meant t go with cheese or hummus. I also keep basic baking ingredients in stock. If you want cookies, make them! And they do regularly, but I know what is going in them. The pleasant side effect? They can both cook quite well. A handy skill for anyone to have.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

How much water do you make them drink a day? I don't mean fruit drinks, kool-aid, 100% juice, WATER. Plain water. Please don't get me wrong we have some processed and junk food in our house and a strict rule on how much per day. Mine are a bit older 14 & 17 but they have been doing this for a very long time. It is most likely that the "I'm hungry" complaint is because they are dehydrated. Normal for kids in your age group is 4-8 8oz glasses of water per day. That is the minimum. And if you are letting them eat more processed foods, you need to up it even more to help flush the overwhelming amount of sodium they are taking in each day. I would try it and see if it helps. Also, premake as much good snacks as you can and label them. Just because you want them to be more responsible, 9 out of 10 times they will choose the easy way out. I know it sucks, but parenting is 24/7. Good luck, hope you can change your house around...

Sorry forgot to say my treat tip, we freeze fresh fruit and the kids love it. Put some blueberries, small strawberries, rasberries, etc into a snack size bag after flash freezing.

 

[MEM]

I'm in the same boat as most of you - DS15 and especially DD14 are eating machines. DS is a beanpole but DD is about 10 pounds overweight. We don't buy soda/pop - if DD wants her Mountain Dew she has to use her allowance. I do buy her vanilla iced coffee K-cups for our Keurig so she doesn't waste her money at Dunkin donuts. For drinking we keep two pitchers of filtered water in the fridge along with skim milk. We also make decaf iced tea. I prefer that they have whole fruit instead of fruit juice so I only buy OJ if its on sale and I have a coupon. I do stock up on Yoplait when its on sale and I have coupons - like this week, I can get it for 30 cents a carton after doubled coupons. The kids actually prefer the Yoplait Light because of flavors like Boston Cream Pie, Red Velvet Cake and Cinnamon Roll - that's the extent of the artificial sweeteners I allow though. I also stocked up recently on string cheese - free after coupons and rebates. They tire of the string cheese after awhile. Last weekend I made a double batch of red quinoa salad with dried cherries and pepitas - its very nutty and high in protein and the kids enjoyed that as a snack. I also made a batch of lemon poppyseed muffins using Greek style yogurt instead of shortening/oil. Those lasted about an hour. I keep cans of tuna and cartons of eggs available - DD will make sandwiches for herself and DS. I also stocked up on turkey bacon when it was 10/$10 and I had coupons good for $1 off 2. It makes a decent BLT on whole wheat bread. I'm not ashamed to say that I hide things like cookies and chips and goldfish for special treats and school lunches.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I know all all about nutrition, believe me. The point is, I want THEM to get their own stuff for lunch and for them, having this junk is like a treat. They get plenty of good protien for breakfast and dinner so I was trying to indulge their "junk food" desires.

And there is nothing wrong with indulging an occasional desire for junk, but it sounds like your kids are going overboard (and honestly I think one meal a day which is mainly junk is too much and not just a treat anyway--sorry). i think the point of many here is that the kids eating all of the junk while ignoring the healthy stuff does NOT make them bottomless pits--it makes them junkfood pits. Trust me, they will hit growth spurts where they can eat and eat and eat and your grocery bill will go through the roof even when only buying healthy stuff, but right now it does not sound like this is your issue (since you say the little stinkers are suddenly not hungry when you offer fruit).

SO, you have three choices:
1. keep buying junk and refilling when they run out and spend a lot on unhealthy eating for your kids.
2. Quit buying the junk all together (or limit it severely, like enough for one meal per week. so if they eat that on Monday it is still a reasonable amount for one day) and only leave healthy items for them to fix themselves. Treats can be family affairs at dinner once in a while. See my previous post for things kids can easily makes themselves that are not totally junk.
3. Keeping buying as you are and hold fast to not buying any more stuff if they finish off mid week. They'll learn eventually if you do not let them cajole you into buying more.

 

[MAGGIED]

I feel your pain... my DS is 17.. 6ft 1 in and 160 lbs.. and eats enough for 2 people... he is not a junk food eater either.. that would be my DH.... DS is a meat eater.. loves steak, burger, chops... and a veggie to go with it... he just eats A LOT!!!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

When I say, "Go eat an apple, banana, strawberries..." magically, mine are NOT hungry. Terds.

Ang

Mine are the same way! They are starved until I break out the carrots, heck I will even let them use dip if they really want it but even that won't entice them.

My kids drink like camels. They act like water is poison and I hate most of the options for drinks. I can't afford to buy tons of juice because they will seriously drink two bottles a day if left on their own. We are at a compromise now, I bought powder for them to put in their drinks and they can't use sugar. Close enough to Kool-Aid to make them happy and not as sugary to make me happy.

My step son moved in with us last year and he was used to eating all day and night, just to eat. After one year he has thinned out a ton and no longer begs for snacks all day long. At first I had to stand over him as he made a sandwich or got a snack because it was not two pieces of lunch meat it was 3/4 of the bag, it was not a handful of crackers it was the whole box. I know kids eat a lot but it was insane with him. I felt like the food police but after my constant harping they all seem to be understand what an appropriate snack or meal is. I don't want my kids hungry and I don't want them to have a complex about eating but I need to keep it moderate for their wasitlines and my budget!

 

[apnep]

I think you are expecting too much if you want kids that age to avoid the tempting junk food and make themselves something healthy.

...spend a couple of afternoons next weekend teaching them. Mine 2 could make all of the following alone ...

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
string cheese/baby bels etc (expect those to run out early in the week too)
hummus
nuts

... shrug and say "looks like plenty of food to me." Repeat as needed (maybe all summer).

You are right, I need to make that a goal to spend time and teach them how to cook things. DS12 actually has been making himself quesadillas and egg sandy's. But yes, I should spend a couple of days empowering them to cook more especially the other two. All the other snacks you listed, I have in the house, including deli meats. I think if I don't make it, they won't fix it though. This is a good goal for them. I do teach them constantly about balanced meals though and tell them if they get a prepared item, like a hot pocket, I expect them to eat salad, or some fruit, as a side. I don't hover around though so they don't do it.

Thanks for that motivation. I will do it.

 

[apnep]

So if the kids are having something they will ask me what the limit is, for example, they're allowed 3 cookies.

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 ...

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

I portion the cookies too and also make them use the small rubber maid containers that are like 1/2 cup size.

I'm glad I'm not the food police after all! Sounds like everyone has the same thought process and has the same problem!

Ang

 

[apnep]

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.

LMAO! OMG, this post hurt my stomach I was laughing so hard!!

Ang

 

[apnep]

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...why does it bother you?

I guess it shouldn't, because like you, I'm not heading back to buy them more. When it is gone it's gone, but I guess it bugs me because I want them to learn to balance having the bad with the good stuff. I think it's like a PP said, they are kids and they're not gonna do it if it's in the house.

Ang

 

[apnep]

You may have to draw up a snack chart and lay down some rules about what they can eat and when. My kids were asking me for food all day long until I made the 10 and 2 rule. I think they were just asking for something to eat when they were bored. It's helped a lot.

Bored, yes. And YES! I love the snack chart idea and your 10 and 2 rule!

Ang

 

[apnep]

Final note--consider getting a children's cookbook. You might be surprised what your kids will eat, if they picked out the recipe and made it themselves.

Great idea! Can you recommend one?

 

[badblackpug]

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?

Yes, this. When they are down to carrot sticks and celery they will learn they have to portion the treat food out.

 

[apnep]

How much water do you make them drink a day? I don't mean fruit drinks, kool-aid, 100% juice, WATER. Plain water... It is most likely that the "I'm hungry" complaint is because they are dehydrated.

We have kool-aid that is barely sweetenend, and water. I only have OJ and they usually only drink a bit for breakfast.

One of my replies is, "Go drink some water.You're thirsty." I usually get a whine. After hearing everyone else, I think my kids are normal and that I don't have to worry about "being a police." It's good to hear everyone else ideas. I'm definitely going to sit down with them and teach more cooking skills and let them know exactly what I expect to see on their plates.

Thanks!