That's It! Cheese Rationing In Effect!

[lts862]

....I though I was the only one.......I just got them to eat an apple, after 2 cupcakes and a popsicle (both wanting a 2nd). This is after a full lunch!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I guess I will get flamed but here goes.
I cannot believe some of these "food rules" that people have. Locking the food away? Why can't anyone eat anything unless it is rationed out to them? If it is a budget issue then don't buy junk food or tell the kids that when it is gone it is gone. I have never in my life ever seen such extensive lists of what a child/adult is allowed to eat in their own home. I am all for moderation in a diet- and if you are the shopper then you chose what kind of food comes into the house- but if my dh told me I couldn't eat something in the house I would laugh at him and he would do the same. If you are using something for a meal then sure, tell the family your intentions and let them know not to eat it. If the kids are eating just because they are bored then find something to do. I know if we are just sitting around the kids want to eat from the second they wake up until bedtime. That is because they aren't doing anything. It is summer. There is so much that you can do that does not cost much. I am sorry but locking the cabinets and the fridge is just way over the top for me. This is their home. I will cut corners on many things but I will not lock away food in our home only to be rationed out as I see fit. YMMV.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I guess I will get flamed but here goes.
I cannot believe some of these "food rules" that people have. Locking the food away? Why can't anyone eat anything unless it is rationed out to them? If it is a budget issue then don't buy junk food or tell the kids that when it is gone it is gone. I have never in my life ever seen such extensive lists of what a child/adult is allowed to eat in their own home. I am all for moderation in a diet- and if you are the shopper then you chose what kind of food comes into the house- but if my dh told me I couldn't eat something in the house I would laugh at him and he would do the same. If you are using something for a meal then sure, tell the family your intentions and let them know not to eat it. If the kids are eating just because they are bored then find something to do. I know if we are just sitting around the kids want to eat from the second they wake up until bedtime. That is because they aren't doing anything. It is summer. There is so much that you can do that does not cost much. I am sorry but locking the cabinets and the fridge is just way over the top for me. This is their home. I will cut corners on many things but I will not lock away food in our home only to be rationed out as I see fit. YMMV.

No flames, but how about an example and explanation. Kids will eat for the sake of eating. We are not locking stuff up for adults (well unless they have a health condition and are not following their diet) but lets keep this to kids and teenagers... Unless you guide a child they have no concept of when to stop. Eating 12 cupcakes in a day because they are there - they would do it! There is no concern that tomorrow there will be none...

An example: My niece is 9 years old and neither of her parents supervise her eating. They have good foods and bad foods in the house. She actually eats many good foods, but to her a serving is 4 apples or she will actually get up in the night to make a grilled cheese sandwich or two, or three. No self control and no one to teach her better. She is 4'8" and weighs 150lbs. OVERWEIGHT!! She doesn't exercise and is ill often.

My DD is 15. I have guided her, showed her serving sizes, she asks me if she can have treats, sugared drinks, etc. More often than not, she picks the apples over the cookies, but she is a kid.... Wouldn't think twice about taking 12 cookies as a serving!! She knows better now, but I still feel that it is important to have an input in her eating habits. My DD is 5'1" and weighs about 115lbs, has a nice figure, definetely not underweight, is active, and healthy.

This is just my opinion!! There are way too many overweight children in our area. It's sad and I blame the parents!!!!!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I guess I will get flamed but here goes.
I cannot believe some of these "food rules" that people have. Locking the food away? Why can't anyone eat anything unless it is rationed out to them? If it is a budget issue then don't buy junk food or tell the kids that when it is gone it is gone. I have never in my life ever seen such extensive lists of what a child/adult is allowed to eat in their own home. I am all for moderation in a diet- and if you are the shopper then you chose what kind of food comes into the house- but if my dh told me I couldn't eat something in the house I would laugh at him and he would do the same. If you are using something for a meal then sure, tell the family your intentions and let them know not to eat it. If the kids are eating just because they are bored then find something to do. I know if we are just sitting around the kids want to eat from the second they wake up until bedtime. That is because they aren't doing anything. It is summer. There is so much that you can do that does not cost much. I am sorry but locking the cabinets and the fridge is just way over the top for me. This is their home. I will cut corners on many things but I will not lock away food in our home only to be rationed out as I see fit. YMMV.

I agree. Growing up, my sister and I could pack away food like it was going out of style (and I was stick thin) but my mother taught us moderation and cupboards and fridges never had to be locked. Locks seem to be a very extreme way to go in my opinion. I think my DH would take a sledgehammer to the locks if I ever did that!!!!!!!

 

[unbroken chain]

Remember also that it can be about choosing the best option to deal with your situation. If both parents work and you have 3 or 4 teens at home all day, your choices pretty much are:
1. Leave all the junk food out and wind up coming home to inventory who ate what or what's missing (leading to the "I had some but everybody else ate more," "his friend ate them," "the dog/cat/wandering yeti ate them," etc.) making your evening more about food and accusations than the limited time you'd like to enjoy with your kids.
2. Leave it out and when it's gone, it's gone (or don't buy it in the first place) - this works great, unless you or your spouse would actually like to have some cookies, chips, etc. - then too bad for you, because you're going to have to wait for the next grocery trip too. Or,
3. Lock or hide the problematic food, leaving out one bag of chips or box of cookies or whatever, along with plenty of good food options.

I don't ration everything, but I don't see anything wrong with leaving out one bag of chips for the day and saying, "that's it." Yes, it would be great if my kids took only a few of something, and my hats off to those whose kids are like this, whether through good genes, good impulse control, or just plain good parenting. But my kids aren't, so for me, rather than "controlling" junk food by buying it only once a week, my "control" method is to stash it away. That way I get some too!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

No flames, but how about an example and explanation. Kids will eat for the sake of eating. We are not locking stuff up for adults (well unless they have a health condition and are not following their diet) but lets keep this to kids and teenagers... Unless you guide a child they have no concept of when to stop. Eating 12 cupcakes in a day because they are there - they would do it! There is no concern that tomorrow there will be none...

An example: My niece is 9 years old and neither of her parents supervise her eating. They have good foods and bad foods in the house. She actually eats many good foods, but to her a serving is 4 apples or she will actually get up in the night to make a grilled cheese sandwich or two, or three. No self control and no one to teach her better. She is 4'8" and weighs 150lbs. OVERWEIGHT!! She doesn't exercise and is ill often.

My DD is 15. I have guided her, showed her serving sizes, she asks me if she can have treats, sugared drinks, etc. More often than not, she picks the apples over the cookies, but she is a kid.... Wouldn't think twice about taking 12 cookies as a serving!! She knows better now, but I still feel that it is important to have an input in her eating habits. My DD is 5'1" and weighs about 115lbs, has a nice figure, definetely not underweight, is active, and healthy.

This is just my opinion!! There are way too many overweight children in our area. It's sad and I blame the parents!!!!!

I agree. Growing up, my sister and I could pack away food like it was going out of style (and I was stick thin) but my mother taught us moderation and cupboards and fridges never had to be locked. Locks seem to be a very extreme way to go in my opinion. I think my DH would take a sledgehammer to the locks if I ever did that!!!!!!!

Exactly!

 

[DevilDuckie]

What happens when you ask them not to eat these things? I don't get it. Do they understand that they aren't supposed to?

I would never have taken the school snacks, or eaten all of the cheese, etc., and can't imagine my kids doing this either. We weren't poor growing up, but my mom was on a budget.

I will admit some culpability in that it had never occured to me that I needed to say, "Don't eat 2 pounds of cheese in under a week."

However, they BOTH knew I was making bread this week and that the bread they like requires cheddar cheese. Going to the fridge to get the ingredients for the dish they both wanted and finding that they'd eaten it ticked me off.

 

[In a hurry]

I will admit some culpability in that it had never occured to me that I needed to say, "Don't eat 2 pounds of cheese in under a week."

However, they BOTH knew I was making bread this week and that the bread they like requires cheddar cheese. Going to the fridge to get the ingredients for the dish they both wanted and finding that they'd eaten it ticked me off.

I'd be ticked, too. I usually shop with a plan, and that would screw it up.

You know, my sister, who has teen boys puts a white board on the fridge with a list of what is in there, and whether it is free for the taking, or leftovers saved for tomorrows dinner.

 

[WendyisDarling]

I'd be ticked, too. I usually shop with a plan, and that would screw it up.

You know, my sister, who has teen boys puts a white board on the fridge with a list of what is in there, and whether it is free for the taking, or leftovers saved for tomorrows dinner.

Your sis is very organized I am not
My boys will eat a jar of pickles in a matter of hours. I've even caught my youngest drinking the juice

I try to ration juice (fruit not pickle )because they need to drink less. Sometimes they don't get it. I typically don't buy pineapple juice, but did earlier this week thinking a Blue Hawaiian would be nice this weekend. Darn it if they didn't drink it all in a day (I think they didn't think it counted as juice since I don't usually buy it--yeah right).
I also ration soda for my oldest. One per day max. Only recently have I become leniant with that one. At 13 he complained his friends didn't have to ask to have a soda. No eating chips from the bag,must portion into a bowl, etc. All eating in the kitchen. I guess I do have a lot of rules.

My rationing is more for their own health.

I don't have rules for DH.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We are big cheese eaters here, hubby can eat a block of cheese without anything with it..

 

[runwad]

I have 3 kids 12, 10 & 7...so when you get a box of fruit snacks and there is only 6 packs thats 2 for each..that doesn't last very long. And my kids do have to ask before they get anything to eat but I guess w/3 of them eating something it just seems to go..I feel I buy enough of a variety they don't need to keep eating the same thing till its gone..but that's what they do. No biggie its gone and they dont get it till the next time it goes on sale. But if I didn't hide the other 5 boxes I bought when it was on sale they start in on another box....then pretty soon we'll get company or friends over and theres nothing left. That's why I hide my snacks...not because they sneak they always ask first but if they dont know we have it they'll make do with popcorn or a piece of fruit. And honestly it's my DH who is the biggest culprit he finds everything and has at it. And if you're like me and on a budget and will only buy on sale and with a coupon well it may be another 6 mos till that item comes back in the house. And seems in the summer we get invited to a lot of last minute picnics and you want to be able to grab that bag of chips or cookies and add it to what you made and just go...if it s out in plain site I wouldn't have it left for those occasions. That's why I hide my snacks

 

[yeartolate]

I just wanna know who cut the cheese?