|
Post by eyeofthestorm on Jan 12, 2021 7:42:25 GMT -6
My children (who are teens - 14, 16, and 18 now) eat an amazing amount, but seem to have fallen into ruts in terms of feeding themselves. The result is they quit before they are truly full, get hungry later, and sometimes "ingredients" go missing. I am reduced to writing "No!" and "Ask Mom first!" with a sharpie on things! Right now, the tortillas for tonight's dinner have this scrawled across the wrapper.
I am now "helping" them by GIVING them certain portions along with their meals. For example, last night we had a typical meal and I also HANDED EACH SON a slice of bread and butter. This is always available, but apparently they never thought of helping themselves. In all seriousness, they each actually said, "Ooo!" as if I had handed them a geode or cupcake.
ANYWAY, I plan to keep handing them food to fill their bellies so they aren't scrounging later. Or at least, scrounge less.
Bread will be my go-to Monday through Thursday when I work right up until dinner (yay for the slow cooker). But right now, all I can think of for spreads are butter and jam.
Is there something else my tired brain is forgetting?
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by MammaMel on Jan 12, 2021 8:34:58 GMT -6
Cheese. Simple bread and cheese is amazing Cream cheese too.
|
|
|
Post by thursdayschild on Jan 12, 2021 8:55:57 GMT -6
You homeschool, right? So they're home? How about putting them on the rotation for fixing meals? It might help to bring things tti attention better. And I would talk to them about portions and that some things aren't there to be snacks but ingredients for other things. Get them involved. Ask what would help them remember. Maybe a place for available snacks so that if the tortillas are there, they're for a snack. If they're in a different place they're for a meal. Check with you for if and how many they can take so you don't run out.
Children are the most delightful pledges in a loving marriage. They are the best wool on the sheep. - Martin Luther
|
|
|
Post by mountainma on Jan 12, 2021 11:48:13 GMT -6
We have a rule, you only get to snack on "freebies" as everything else is for meal plans. Otherwise, my ingredients are missing for dinner time. We make a menu and leave a spot allotted for snacks. I keep a bowl of fruit on the counter (whatever cheap fruit is in season, like apples) and I let the family know what the "freebies" are for the week. With the gluten allergy, bread is too expensive for snacks here, but sometimes I'll slice up celery or carrot sticks for snacks with Ranch dressing or peanut butter. We have a small electric air popper and can buy popping corn kernels for very cheap. This is a favorite "free" snack that's healthier than chips and less expensive.
For spreads on the kid's bread, you can change it up with butter, apple butter, jam, nut butter, cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar, garlic butter, hummus, or mustard. It's easy to pre-make your own honey butter or garlic butter, etc. I pre-mix cinnamon and sugar and keep it in an old spice jar and it cuts down on mess when they want it on toast.
|
|
|
Post by eyeofthestorm on Jan 13, 2021 7:33:56 GMT -6
Mountainma, thank you for the ideas!
Thurday's Child, they are actually pretty good. They already know how to bake - baking is in their rotating chore list (yeast bread, quick bread usually, occasionally bar cookies). I handed that off a couple of years ago.
I will think about restructuring/ordering the fridge. I just may not get behavioral buy-in from DH. Remember, we are all home all day (we both work from home as well as the kids homeschooling). DH won't intentionally try to undermine it, but he doesn't always "get it." But I can try!
One thing the boys DO handle well are charts or lists on the front of the fridge. If I post a list of THINGS TO SPREAD ON BREAD, they will pay attention.0
Thank you all 😊
|
|