serious problem

lil_bit_crazy

I really don't know where else to go to get ideas or vent. I am on my cell phone so yeah, I'll be txt typing.

I have a VERY limited budget for food. As in @$75 per week for 5 people and 3 of those are growing boys.
I buy healthy lasting items (freezer bulk things) and try to get a few things like a bag or 2 of chips or popcorn for a snack to last a few days.

Today I went to the store and spent $35 on enough food for 4 days. I got 2 gallons of milk and cereal for them for the next 2 mornings. They have been told over and over and over DRINK WATER or koolaid.

Tonight I go in the kitchen to get my 8 oz milk with my protein mix....ALL the cereal is gone. There is no milk left. The chips are gone. I am almost completely out of food again! This happens every time I go to the store!
There is hamburger chicken potatoes green beans corn carrots and water left until Saturday.

When I make food they wont eat it. Then cry they are hungry. I am not a short order cook. This is not a restaurant. If I cook breakfast lunch dinner from now til Saturday the food wont last.

I thought of getting a locking cabinet but I shouldn't have to lock up food.
They are pigs. They are inconsiderate and thoughtless. This has gone on for MONTHS!
I have grounded, taken things, stopped buying treats, and yes I've busted their *kitten*. I don't care that they eat SOME but they eat ALL. Example ..I'll buy the 25 pk of popcorn for 2 weeks. Every last one is GONE within 2 DAYS. I've tried hiding food. Locking my bedroom door. Doesn't work. They ask to get something like batteries and go in, next thing ya know popcorn has 1 by 1 disappeared.
They aren't starving. They are healthy and active.
what would you do? I'm so tired of running out of food because they think they have to eat it all the day I buy it.

Tangerine302

When all of the "good stuff" is gone, I'm sure if they are hungry enough they will eat what you make. Sounds like they are very hungry kids. What about making something that's extra filling like spaghetti for them.If they are eating all of the cereal it sounds like they aren't eating filling type items. What about eggs/omlets for breakfast? Something that is more filling then cereal. Good luck with everything.

MountainDont351LBS

How much are your car payments and what do you owe on them? I'll get to my point in a bit.

lil_bit_crazy

I buy 2 dozen eggs at a time. Each kid get 4 eggs when I cook them.
If I don't make homemade noodles I'll buy whole wheat spaghetti and make double (2#) ..enough for 10-12 ppl. They don't finish that.
But they'll go back 30 minutes later and eat 8 mini bags of Doritos, each.

I just don't get it. Even when the junk food is gone, they wont eat. All I hear is "I'm hungry! I'm starving!" But there is GOOD food there!

I am seriously thinking I'm getting a locking cabinet.

I bought yogurt for myself to increase my calcium because milk upsets my stomach. Got 40 of them last Monday (of last week) by Tues at noon I went in for my snack, not a single one was left.
Its getting bad. One or 2 I don't care. But 3 kids, 40 yogurts in under 24 hours?

lil_bit_crazy

How much are your car payments and what do you owe on them? I'll get to my point in a bit.

Car and truck are both paid in full.

recoiljpr

I dunno, we have 3 boys (and a young girl) who eat us out of house and home. I have no idea how you spend $75 per week (Our average grocery bill is around $200 per week). We don't buy garbage, but the boys are hungry and eat whatever isn't nailed down. I consider it a "price" we pay for having children. No one made my wife and I have 4 kids. so we consider it our responsibility. With boys, comes a larger grocery bill, I don't know of anyone who has pre-teen and teen boys in which they DON'T eat them out of house and home. It's just how they are. So instead of having expensive cars or vacations, etc our money instead goes to daycare and groceries. We do what we can to save costs here and there, but in the end, kids aren't cheap! But we knew those were the "costs" and the joy our kids bring in our lives is worth many, many, many times the cost over.

So for me personally, it's not a big deal and I don't sweat it.

lil_bit_crazy

Recoiljpr...... if they would EAT the food I made and not ALL the snacks and junk and treats in one or two days I wouldn't care.

But now it's like I'm wasting money on good food going in the trash, and snacks n treats for anyone else for the week because they want to Hoover it almost before its in the door.

If they ate b/l/d then had a snack I'd be happy as a clam! But they don't. I can't afford to keep tossing food in the trash off their plates nor buy snacks they will inhale which doesn't last more than a day or 2.

itsuki

If you're that strapped for cash, check out your local food pantry. Situations like yours are exactly what they're for.

catniss

OK, so they're not eating their dinner, but they're eating all the junk/snack food--what if you didn't buy junk/snack food?

slrrese

My mom never bought that stuff and neither did I when the kids were young. We had apples for smacks, if we were hungry or went without.

MB_Positif

No idea what to tell you really, other than, stop buying the snacks. Buy big containers of plain yogurt for yourself which they will surely ignore. Add fresh fruit to it.

takingnameskickingbutt

Do you know if there are any local food banks?

I know it may not be something you are used to, but I know a lot of people who have used them when they have had big families and tight budgets.

Good luck!

Phoenix59

Stop buying snacks and treats. They eat what's there or they don't eat. At least, that's what I did with my kids when they were growing up. If their really that hungry, they'll eat the good food you make them.

Pilotgirl86

Recoiljpr...... if they would EAT the food I made and not ALL the snacks and junk and treats in one or two days I wouldn't care.

But now it's like I'm wasting money on good food going in the trash, and snacks n treats for anyone else for the week because they want to Hoover it almost before its in the door.

If they ate b/l/d then had a snack I'd be happy as a clam! But they don't. I can't afford to keep tossing food in the trash off their plates nor buy snacks they will inhale which doesn't last more than a day or 2.

Stop buying snacks.

They will either learn to eat the healthy food you have, or they will go hungry (which they won't). Don't have popcorn or chips around period. My mom did this with my brother, and he eventually started eating the chicken and veggies etc that she cooked.

Cut up carrot and celery as snacks, with ranch dip or PB. If the kids don't have the option of junk, they will eat whatever is available.

paintlisapurple

Stop buying junk food and start stocking the fridge with a large bag of mixed fruit and other natural goodies for snacks. Buy popcorn that they would have to actually pop themselves for "junk". It will cut costs, they'll probably eat more home made food, and their health would benefit from the change. If its (chips and stuff) not there...they certainly can't eat it.

subcult

Sounds like buying in bulk ks costing you more even if it's saving per item. My girls don't eat a ton but my 7 year old 48 pound son can as much as me or more. I can see now I'm in for a world of hurt in the future.

leo02098

Quit buying snack food? Don't give them the option of "junk".

Ready2Rock206

But they'll go back 30 minutes later and eat 8 mini bags of Doritos, each.

I just don't get it. Even when the junk food is gone, they wont eat. All I hear is "I'm hungry! I'm starving!" But there is GOOD food there!

So don't buy the junk food and they'll have no choice but to only eat the good food.

I know how it is though - I got a pound and a half of cheese slices the other day - totally gone. I got a half-dozen bagels yesterday - there's 2 or 3 left. I just have one teenage boy - they sure can eat!

rugbyphreak

my mom just says that we can either eat what she makes or eat nothing and she's serious. stop buying the "junk" and they can't eat it. their will be no fighting for what isn't there.

spiregrain

I have a housemate that sometimes eats more of my random condiment type food than I can afford to replace. She eats organic so I stopped buying organic anything if it would be too expensive for me to replace. My advice would be, if you can't afford the junk they fill up on and ditch the healthy meals for, then don't. Is there a reason you need all that popcorn in the house? Junk food is expensive relative to what you actually get out of it. Maybe keep some ramen around for times when they just need way more calories than their meals that day provided.

recoiljpr

Recoiljpr...... if they would EAT the food I made and not ALL the snacks and junk and treats in one or two days I wouldn't care.

Well, then don't get snacks for a few weeks and only give them plenty of food you cook. They will eat it, I promise they won't starve. :-)

Yeah, it sucks you can't keep a few treats for yourself, but for now that's really your only choice. Show them you mean business by not buying a single snack food for a while. They will get the picture.

zacksnana

Buy a small locking fridge for what you need for your meals. Continue to cook meals for them but no chips etc. put leftovers from dinner that they don't eat in fridge. Mark their own containers, whatever. When they cry hungry again send them to their leftovers. If they don't want that they probably are not really hungry.

shaynak112

Stop buying snacks, junk, treats, etc. If YOU want something, lock it up somehow.
If I had family members going through all my stuff, hidden at the back of my closet, etc., then there are other issues besides food.

debgetzfit

Stop buying the snacks like mini Doritos bags and popcorn. It sounds like you make enough food at meals to have leftovers which they can have for snacks the next day when they're hungry instead of the snacks...and it does sound like you need a locking cabinet as sad as it may be. I don't have grown boys, but a 6 year-old and I'm not looking forward to that phase!
Good luck!

lil_bit_crazy

If you're that strapped for cash, check out your local food pantry. Situations like yours are exactly what they're for.

I bargain shop. I can get ENOUGH to last for the week. Its not that I'm strapped for cash. Its that they eat it all within 2 days. It wouldn't matter if I bought double, hit food banks, cleaned out a grocery store. If its in my house they EAT IT ALL!

I get meat on sale. Bread I make homemade. I buy freezer items in bulk. I use coupons. Last week my total was $260. After the coupons, buy 1 get 1, sales and MVP discount card my total was $81. I really know how to bargain shop...newspapers are my friends.

PicNic00

I tell my family once it's gone, it's gone... I only go to the store once a week. So if they eat everything 2 days later.... they wait until I go to the store again. (And i hide my expensive goodies.)

kmm7309

Stop buying snack foods. Seriously- nothing. If YOU want snack foods, make it non-perishable, and it goes in YOUR room, under the bed or something.

My screwy sons did the same crap for awhile (15 and 14). Now they just don't get snacks. No cereal. Nothing. I have eggs- they have hands and they can cook if they are hungry. I provide dinner and lunch, so they can cook their own breakfast.

_Sara_A_

Couple options are have the boys get jobs for treat such as chips, chocolate, cereals full of sugar. That way your money can go to nutritious foods that you want in the house. If they're preteen boys, they can get paper routes, cut grass, shovel snow, etc. Teenagers can get jobs anywhere. Another option is if they're old enough sit down with them and show them the food budget and meal plan for the week, so they can understand where you're money is going for food. Maybe they have some ideas that you haven't thought of.

WickedBean

Can I make a suggestion? It might sound crazy but Its the only way I could stop my one roommate (we share the food bill) I stopped buying the snacks.

I ask what he wants when I go and he will say "what ever food is food" but the second the snacks came in then he would eat that and nothing else.

as for the cereal and the milk, freeze one. Milk will thaw and be normal if you buy 2 and freeze one they will slow down - my mom did this when we were growing up, and to this day when we go home she always has 2 but only has one in the fridge and one in the freezer. We all know its there but milk takes forever to thaw so we were sure that we always saved the milk - no one wants to wait for milk in the morning lol when you notice you have about a cup left take the other one out of the freezer and thaw it, by morning you will have enough for your protein or w/e. Dry cereal that isn't easy to eat dry makes it harder to devour the whole box when you have no milk.

Basically make it difficult, my mom made are rule in our house - thing we REALLY wanted we had to wait until saturday. And then we could have crackers or chips or what ever we wanted because thats when she would go grocery shopping and to this day (I am almost 30) I don't have any kind of snack food in my house until saturday and then I go and buy it and eat it and I am good until next week. It also helps with eating the good food, they will only starve for so long before they weaken and give in.

rugbyphreak

until they're really starving, they won't eat what you make. trust me, if they're hungry enough, they'll chow down on some celery or even grass if it gets down to it. that's what it took for me to eat dinner, 3 days of forcing myself not to eat because i didn't like what my mom made. that hunger strike didn't last long and i learned to appreciate what food i was given.

karimlakhani

For me carb or sugar heavy foods like cereal, milk, popcorn, and chips are very easy to overeat and don't really satisfy my hunger for long. I recommend buying foods that are high in fiber, fat, and protein instead. Foods like that are more filling, so your kids will probably need to eat less and will feel less hungry too. Good luck!