serious problem

You're not alone. Lots of folks are struggling in this economy to feed their families and news story tonight about how the drought will make the price of meats, chicken and dairy go up... So, it's only getting worse. My suggestion is one you've heard, just don't buy the junk. Buy fruit. Buy carrots, celery and peanut butter. When I was growing up, the only drinks other than water were milk and orange juice. No sodas, no candy, no snack foods. I was used to it, didn't love it, but acclimated to it. Now that I"m an adult, I'm really happy I didn't grow up drinking soda and eating junk food--I just never developed a taste for them and I'm grateful to my parents for that. I wish you the best. I think it's time for a sit-down with your children to explain the state of affairs...I think most kids naturally will eat you out of house and home...it's just their nature. But given the harsh reality, they might be able to support you in some healthy choices. You never know!

I don't know what to say. When I was a child we were told what snack food we were free to eat and only ate that. We didn't feel entitled to any or all of the food in the fridge without asking. I think there is something more to it than being hungry or they would eat what you cook. I would not buy treat food until they respect the boundries you set.
I am sorry, $76 dollars doesn't go far, I think you are doing fantastic if you can live on that. I am sorry for your frustration. Maybe a fridge lock is the answer.

I posted earlier and i recant my response since you posted the height and weight of the children. You state the 14 year old is 5 feet and weighs 85 pounds. I looked through pediatric websites and a healthy weight for him would be 105 to 125

You state the 13 year old weighs 84 pounds and is 5 feet 1 inch. He should weigh the same.

You state your 11 year old weighs 77 pounds and is 4'6. His healthy weight is 85 to 100 pounds

They are HUNGRY and UNDERWEIGHT! It does not matter that other family members are underweight, obviously these boys are not REQUIRED to be underweight are they? And if they get enough to eat eventually they will settle down and eat more normally.

I also ate very little at one point in my life to make sure my children had enough food

You state you are obese. Buy the children whatever they need to thrive and cut your needs back. You will all be better off and they will thank you for it.

I know you will say the pediatrician says they are fine but YOU are the one saying they eat and eat and eat. Kids don't do that unless they are HUNGRY! Please please don't be hateful and call them pigs. Just show them you love them.

Very much dislike this post. I work in a family medicine office and weigh people for a living. Kids come in many shapes and sizes. How very rude and ignorant to tell a mother her children are hungry and underweight.

my husband spent 20 years in the army and we only bought the bulk of groceries once a month. there was always arguinng over who ate what and who did not get. I allowed less than one soda per day and 1 box of granola bars per kid per week. I labeled them with their names. that way... no arguing. when it was gone it was gone.... I did not buy more. Also, my daughter got very very picky when she was a teenager... but guess what... when she joined the Navy she found she would eat whatever was put in front of her and I was told oh I eat avocados and I eat sushi and I eat porkchops and I eat.... on and on... really... they can move beyond the crap

OP, we're going to need an update, ok??

I say put it under lock and key if they are really out of control with it. That's what my parents did to my siblings and I. Don't let them go into your room for anything at any time. eventually they will adjust and start eating what you give them to it. In the meantime you might want a pair of earplugs until the habits change

Whatever you do, don't give into their whining! :happy: hang in there!!

Carrott sticks. My kids like the baby ones. Granola bars, etc. Tell them to STHU and go to bed. Or eat some of the left overs. (you did say there were left overs, right?)

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?

I was going to say the same thing.. I would just stop buying the snacks (such as chips and whatnot) and buy carrot sticks, fruits, etc.. if they are hungry they will have no choice but to eat that.. I am in the same situation pretty much.. My husband and kids eat everything (i have 2 boys and a girl). I have $100 to spend a week and it's hard with just that so I can imagine $75 per week must be pretty tough. Wish I had better advice for you..

i'm sure this has been said about 50348 times in the last 9 pages, but stop buying your kids ****ty food. you're wasting money and teaching them bad habits. they'll eventually get hungry enough to eat what you make for them. stop making it into a game where they win.

I have four kids and spend far more on groceries than you do but I don't buy very much "snack" food. For snacks I buy one or two Costco bags of tortilla chips per month and that's it. If they have popcorn it's bulk kernels and they get to pop their own. The rest is fruit, cheese, raw vegetables and nuts. I'm also mean and make them weigh out the serving size of things like chips, nuts and yogurt (that I buy plain, in bulk and allow them to add a little frozen fruit to). When they have to weigh it out on the scale it conserves the food because they aren't eating mountains of it at once and it teaches them what a serving size is. Mine will stay out of anything I tell them to and they will obey me and weigh out their food though. If I had to lock up food and ration it so we still had some left for the rest of the week I probably would. There would be a few things that were free choice (mostly the stuff they're refusing to eat!) but the rest would be on my terms. If they want to get a job to earn a little cash for goodies then they can but I'm not buying it. For the record, I have 18, 16, 12 and 8 years old so I have a good range. It also helps that we're gluten free because it automatically limits some of the junk unless we pay through the nose for store bought or I make it myself (which is what I do when we want a treat because I'm cheap and want to know what's in it.)

One of our favorite cheap meals before going GF was just a bean and cheese tortilla. You can make a huge pot of refried beans pretty cheaply. Cheese isn't too bad and they don't need much and tortillas are inexpensive too. Plenty of protein in there to keep them from getting hungry fast.

Cheap foods we still eat would be oatmeal, peanut butter, in season fruit and vegetables, salad, beans, chicken thighs and drumsticks and popcorn. I'm sure there is more but that's all I've got at the moment.

OP, we're going to need an update, ok??

Dinner ...oven baked chicken, homemade mashed taters n gravy homemade cream corn.

Oldest ate corn n meat. Youngest had meat n taters. Middle ate meat with gravy. There is enuf in there for each to have 2-3 complete adult sized meals. Dinner was an hour n half ago. Already I'm hearing "there's nothing to eat! I'm hungry! "

I am done.

I don't understand... do you tell them no and they ignore you? Or do you allow the snacking without argument? You just need to tell them no. Growing up, my Mom would reply with "Have a glass of milk if you're still hungry." We didn't have money to afford lots of stuff, so when we did have special stuff we were required to ask for it. We knew what we could have (fruit, veggies, etc.) and we knew what was off limits (cookies, chips, etc.) All my parents had to do was say no and that was it... we weren't even allowed to challenge it.

OMG my brothers and sister and I were like this when we were teenagers and my 4 kids are the same. You just balance it out. Sometimes you don't buy the chips and have apples instead. There's no absolutes with kids especially teens. Sometimes over the summer when I want to mix it up a bit I give them money and let the oldest ones shop for some of the meals. I let them get what they want. But they have to keep track of how much it all costs. and pay at the register It just gives them a different perspective and helps them take ownership. Hang in there it won't be like this forever. Really... one day you'll look back on this and laugh. And trust me if you lock up the food they will find a way lol!

I had an older brother and a younger sister. Imagine when we were all teenagers at the same time.

My Mom cooked a good dinner for us. Stick to your ribs stuff - potatoes, meat, salad, pasta, rice. Filling, with proteins and veggies. Dessert was a rare treat - maybe once a month. A glass of milk for dinner, breakfast, and water or maybe Kool-Aid. No pop.

If you were hungry, there was always bread and peanut butter. Chips were a rare treat. The big event was when my Dad made a thin crust homemade pizza on a Saturday night for a snack!

I'd reduce the snack, and start buying milk one at a time. I'd read them the riot act too. There must be some pain point you can use to hold over their heads. Xbox, TV or Internet time, etc.

Good luck. You are already performing a miracle in feeding them for $75 a week. My family of 3 is probably double that.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/304943-how-many-calories-should-an-average-teenager-eat-per-day/

Caloric needs for moderately active males between ages of 11-13 1800-2600
Males between the ages of 14-18 2200-3200

They need a lot of food.


They are hungry. My 11 year old does not stop eating. Ever. I agreed to feed him when I agreed to have him.

I quit reading this thread early on. This isn't a serious problem.

Your kids are spoiled.
Your food budget is ok, tons of cheap food exists out there that will fill them up and provide plenty of protein and complex carbs, but cheap food can get boring... too bad. (beans, rice, chicken, veggies, cheese, etc)
You don't need help from a food bank if you're throwing away leftovers, they just need a reality check.

i have relatives who have barely made it by while starting their businesses and lived on little more than beans and weenies, but now they're super successful. Food doesn't always have to be exciting, just filling and providing the basics needed for growing boys.