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Inhale the Positivity

loveandfitness's picture

Rarely do I have anything good to say about SS11, but he's an excellent eater I'll give him that. He will eat anything I put in front of him without complaint, and he ALWAYS cleans his plate. (Unlike DS5 who is extremely picky) He's always excited for dinner.

Unfortunately, this summer our grocery bill has more than doubled since he's been here!! Eeek!
He eats more than twice as much as DH during meals, and he's a string bean. Growing boy I guess.
After he's had a second helping and there is nothing left he'll complain about being hungry and always wants something else to eat, even if we give him anything we ourselves haven't finished.

Well, I don't want to go broke feeding this child, but I don't want him to be "hungry" either. (Often I think he does it just because people make such a big deal out of it. "Wow you can eat a lot! etc.) Anyway, I bought a huge box of Ramen Noodles. After meals if he decides he's still hungry he's been told he's welcome to make some as long as he cleans up after himself. We will see how that goes.

Comments

ntm's picture

Protein. Fiber rich foods. Make sure he's not over hungry going into dinner. Once you get to that point you can't eat enough. Protein shake for a snack?

notasm3's picture

Beans and rice. Cheap, cheap, cheap and can be absolutely delicious. There are so many different meals that can be based on the different kinds of beans.

Great source of protein and fiber. Can be main dish or side dish.

On eggshells's picture

I love black beans and rice.. I had that from lunch today. Added a little leftover pulled pork, green pepper, onion. It was fabulous.

Also, hard boiled eggs, bananas are cheap and he can just grab them.

Does he drink tons of milk? Milk is pretty expensive. Steer him toward water or make a pitcher of ice tea every couple of days.

loveandfitness's picture

Yes! Lately I've been buying two gallons a week. Last week I bought 12 bananas and 10 apples. The bananas were GONE in 2 days. (Some people are sneaking snack obviously) DH and the kids eat a banana or apple every day for between meal snacks if they're hungry, and I use them for shakes. If I'd let them, the kids would have one during every meal, lol.

loveandfitness's picture

I couldn't afford chips even if I wanted some! Although lately I've been making apple blondies from a recipe I found on Pinterest. they use a ridiculous amount of sugar, but otherwise are easy and cheap.
I don't buy many packaged foods, I try to stick to fresh. Although during SS stays it's probably a better option to go with frozen price wise.

loveandfitness's picture

I couldn't afford chips even if I wanted some! Although lately I've been making apple blondies from a recipe I found on Pinterest. they use a ridiculous amount of sugar, but otherwise are easy and cheap.
I don't buy many packaged foods, I try to stick to fresh. Although during SS stays it's probably a better option to go with frozen price wise.
More beans and rice are great ideas! Nice and filling.

Cover1W's picture

SD10 is doing this now.
I've had to stop buying some more expensive things and start doing a lot of burgers (beef, chicken and turkey), more tofu - she likes stir frys, and cheaper meat cuts. I'm going to try getting her to eat more beans at this point; she'll try anything I make and if I season it like the tofu or mexican style, I think she'll do it...

She's developed from a really picky eater to eating almost anything I give her.
It's hard getting her to remember to eat, she's very active and will forget to snack or have lunch. I showed her where all the snack stuff is (fruit, crackers, pretzels, nuts, etc. healthy stuff) and where her lunch stuff was. And then I walk away because I'm not there during the day.
I notice when I got home yesterday that none of anything was touched. I have no idea what she ate. DP was in charge. Oh well.

SD12 survives on rice crispies, potato chips, ice cream, and mac-n-cheese with the occasional dabble in an ounce of chicken (depending on how it's cooked) or some fish (she for some reason loves fish which can be expensive...I have to look into alternative fish sources).

Basically I'll help provide standard groceries but extras like ice cream, chips, special dinner requests, DP has to get. My own grocery bill was stupidly high last summer because I wasn't monitoring that DP never went to the store.

justanothergurlNJ's picture

Watch for a growth spurt! He's a growing boy. Try to keep healthy and easy snacks ready for him. My BS was like this at 11-12 and again around 15-16. My BD is going through this again as well she just turned 15 got her period in December, she works out 3-4 days a week and does competitive cheer. Some days that little girl eats more the my 18 year old son and SO put together. OHHH how I miss the days of a good metabolism.

Tuff Noogies's picture

just 2 gallons? h3ll dh and i alone go through about 5 a week!!!

and yes, watch for a growth spurt. i'm a bean-pole, but i remember being insatiably hungry as a teen, it was awful and my brother and i shared growing phases. lurch is also the same way, dh sometimes calls him 'dumpster' as he will decimate any food in sight.

good on the ramen noodles, just watch the sodium and make sure the kid gets enough water and other fresh foods in his diet. ground beef is probably the cheapest way to go a lot of times, and that can be stretched pretty well. also family-packs of cheaper cuts, like chicken thighs. and definitely rice and beans.

good luck, growing teens can put away a LOT of grocery money.

AJanie's picture

I buy a bag of clementines and after dinner SS can have fruit and water.

It is always nice to see your skid eat what you make.