How do i ration my kids?

ajbrynoffa

I`m fed up of going to the cupboard and all the goodies are gone!I`ve got 4 boysand we try to do 2 shops a week to split it up a bit.Now i buy all the usual biscuits and stuff but they always get hammered and of course "nobodys had them"!I don`t want to stop buying them snacks etc but how can i share them out and make sure they last longer than a day or so?haven`t got enough room to give them a cupboard each by the way and say when they`re gone they`re gone.

DeniseNZ

I have four boys too, so I know what you are going through LOL.

I have given my boys each a named container. At the beginning of the week when I buy groceries I divide the snack food into their containers, generally one snack food for each day so they usually have seven items it them. (I am cutting right back on this at the moment, too).

Then it's up to them. I have one who eats everything within two days, but he knows that he then goes without for the rest of the week. Another one of the boys usually has one or two items left over at the end of the week!

I don't know the ages of your boys, but it works well with mine.

I usually try and have plenty of fruit in the house as well (though it's winter here and fruit and veges are really expensive!)

calleyw

Denises idea sounds a good one.

But then in our house growing up you where never allowed to just take you had to ask if you wanted anything. But then I come from an era (only 34 by the way) where we really did not have snacks. Three meals a day and maybe the odd piece of fruit.

The other way is just to leave it as it. And they learn that once it has all gone they don't get any more until next week.


Yours


Calley

troll35

Move them out of reach would be my first suggestion, but ultimately you may have made a rod for your own back if they are allowed to help themselves as they please. (you don't mention how old your darlings are ) I have never allowed DS to help himself, he (and all the kids I care for) have to ask (politely:)).....though I find they don't tend to ask. We have snacks and meals at reasonably consistent times and so they don't get too hungry.

My sister often finds her cupboards bare because she's never stopped her kids from helping themselves. Unfortunately she's also had visiting children helping themselves as they freely roamed in and out with her own kids.

Second suggestion would be to stop buying them for a few weeks and maybe make homemade treats for a while. This would automatically ration what you had. They may even enjoy helping make the treats.

Smashing

Potential ideas -

If you're buying multipacks etc. keep them somewhere where the kids don't have access (hide, basically) and dispense them as needed.

If you leave them in the cupboard - inform them that they need to last a week (including lunches). Once they're gone - no more.

The containers idea above.

Junk food snacks - one item each in a lunchbox. Not necesssarily everyday. Emphasise proper meals in the evenings, have healthy snacks and encourage them to eat fruit if they need something between meals.

Chipps

We also had the rule for our kids that no-one takes without permission. But then we started off that way, I don't know how you change if they have just been able to take things from the cupboard.
Perhaps troll35's idea of changing to homemade only for a while would work, then you could introduce asking or waiting for permission.

When I was little, I was always told "those who ask, don't get!!!!!"

Smashing

Chipps wrote:

When I was little, I was always told "those who ask, don't get!!!!!"

I was always told 'God helps those who help themselves'

flufff

I try to go foodshopping if possible without mine over hols as they tend to throw stuff in trolley which can double my foodbill.
Nowt wrong with tescos value biccies digestives custard creams etc....price they are it doesnt matter too much as can get 3 packs and have change left from a pound.Praps just change what you buy till they learn.
Mine are taught to ask.I keep goodies on top of freezer out of way but my eldest is taller than me now at 14 and my 5 year old moves chairs rofl....

ajbrynoffa

some really great replies there,thankyou.The boys are ages 14,12 and 6 year old twins by the way.The idea of individual containers sounds the best i think so we`ll try that...thanks one and all...........Alan.

rchddap1

For the older kids I'd do something different than for the younger one. Every now and then we have my partner's girls over to stay (teenagers). They always know that we have no chocolate / biscuits in the house at all....so there is no point in looking for it. They also know where the fruit is and that they can help themselves as and when they like.

We also refuse to buy fizzy pop, and instead have squash, to which they can also help themselves. Experience shows that pop is drunk far quicker than plain squash. Plus there is always more squash for your money than pop.

Crisps we also buy in moderation. They are allowed to help themselves, but again they understand that once its gone...tough.

The final rule is if they want anything in addition to the above they have to buy it themselves with their own money. Or of course ask if they can make it. All this means that they think about things a bit more when buying stuff, and don't get use to filling up on junk.

Sarahsaver

I stopped buying them. Only took 1 to 2 weeks for the kids to get over it. Look at the salt content on a bag of standard crisps or the fat and calories in a kit kat and then think of it going into your child. Makes me want to cry! Mine eat fruit, carrots, HM cake, flapjacks etc.