Teenagers stealing food

shellsuit

I thought this was going to be about teens with eating disorders!

I wouldn't class it as stealing, I'd just say they were lazy and ignorant for not asking when they have been asked to ask! (if that makes sense lol)

My kids always ask before they get something to eat, but if they didn't, I'd just say "help yourself to X again when I've asked you to ask first and I'll not buy them again".

[Deleted User]

and I always had a bowl of dried fruit and nuts on the table plus a big bowl of fruit and they were welcome to help themselves. Healthy food after all and no wonder they have turned into healthy adults

Raksha

kittie wrote: »

those teenagers must be hungry. For goodness sake sake, feed them. Calling their snacking `stealing` is way over the top so no wonder they take food in secret. It sounds like the Dickens era in your house

My children never had to take food in secret. If they wanted something then they just asked me.

I wish they would ask me, i can't always say 'yes' though if it's part of something else I've planned for later in the week, or if they've already had 3 good meals plus other snacks already - if I did they would be the size of houses!

BitterAndTwisted

I think it's only right that parents should choose to have absolute control over what their kids eat and when if that's what their house-rules are. A family home is not a self-service restaurant where the customers don't even pay at the end of the meal.

OP, I know you should feel like you ought to be able to trust your children to follow your rules but it seems that the temptation is too great for them. You haven't mentioned their ages but perhaps they are too young to understand about deferred pleasures? In which case I would have some "allowed and help-yourself after meals" items, some "eat anytime you like" stuff and your luxury cooking ingredients stashed away in a secret hiding-place or just not bought in advance.

Even though my parents were as poor as church mice when we were nippers fresh fruit of some kind was freely available between meals but we preferred CAKE and CHOCOLATE BISCUITS just as all kids do

pupsicola

kittie wrote: »

what else is going on so that your children have to take comfort food?

That comment is so rude and out of order

McKneff

kittie wrote: »

what else is going on so that your children have to take comfort food?

Wow, where did that come from.:eek:

Are you nuts :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

VfM4meplse

As children we were never told we couldn't eat anything, those were the days before EPOS when everything bought would have price stickers which would give me a guideline of what should be shared. (Also the days before late opening supermarkets and I do not have fond memories of Saturday food shopping).

vouchersrme

Had 2 lads who did the same, it is in the house therefore I can eat it. I found a quick word, and food put in a no-go cupboard worked well. Both are now foodies and love cooking, because they get their basic love of food from YOU. Well done.

Mrs_Imp

kittie's comment might have been a little blunt, but it is something to consider. Why do they find it necessary to take the food? A friend of mine was picked on and would comfort eat, despite her mum doing her best to provide healthy meals. The grazing was almost constant, and the healthy meals often not finished.

In the case of my DH, if there's a packet of something open, then he'll eat it, and finish it unless I move it. It's a habit for him, which I know I need to take into consideration.

Maybe it is just lazy teenagerness - can't be bothered to make toast, so will eat chocolate, or maybe there's something else to it - growth spurt increasing hungryness, habit eating etc.

I think that you should have a shelf or a cupboard for 'do not eat' food. Or maybe make some really bland cake, and hand it out to them, saying, 'well, it was going to be chocolate cake, but you've eaten the all chocolate'

Certainly when I was a teenager there was a tin of snacks on the side for when I came home from school, and anything else I asked about.

money_saving_diva

It sounds like normal behaviour to me but agree it's a bit wrong if you have told them to not take. I wonder if they are confused what they can/can not have?

Do they go shopping with you? If they do they will a) see how much these items cost b) they can help you chose what to buy c) you can discuss what you are buying stuff for - like the cranberries are for cookies.

Do they help you put the shopping a way? For example when I was a teen I would help my mum put shopping in the cupboards and the ingrediants bought for baking would all be put together and they would be left alone for baking.

I also knew which choc bars were for packed lunches & which ones we could help ourselves to.

I get annoyed if my hubby helps himself to something I had bought for a certain meal/reason but if I haven't told him, how was he to know?