My kids eat sooo much!!!!?

Question

I know, most kids do, but my husband and I are at a loss with the grocery bill. Food is expensive, especially in Calfornia, I spend at least $900 a month on food and have three kids. Is that normal? If not, how have some of you "curbed" the appetites of your offspring? It seems like they gorge themselves the minute I walk through the door from shopping!

By the way, I am not FAT, and I do buy lots of whole grains and fresh fruit and veggies. I meant this as a serious question.

Answer 1

Is the problem that they overweight? If they eat as much as you're implying, they probably are or they will be in a few years time.

Just stop spending as much a month on food. If you keep supplying, they will keep eating. If they're still living at home and living off of your food, then they basically have to eat what you serve. Serve smaller quantities and stock your fridge with healthier foods (fruits, veggies, fresh, leaner meats etc.) and don't let them convince you to buy chips, cookies, etc.

As their parent who is paying for the food, you have the right to do this.

Answer 2

I'm sure food is more expensive in CA than it is here, but you know? I probably need more information before I can answer. For example...how old are your kids? Are they little or teenagers? What brands of foods do you buy? Do you buy appealing shelf food, or make things from scratch?

We have nine people in our household, and we spend about $1200. We shop at Sam's Club once a month and buy the megasizes of basics and snacks. Once the snacks are gone, we DO NOT buy more. If they want snacks after that, they have to use the basics to make them. Not only does that decrease how many snacks they eat a time, they actually love our homemade snacks...my seven year old is experimenting with making jelly rolls that taste like hoho's.

We go to the grocery store to buy more milk and eggs, and sometimes bread (which I usually make for our family because of food allergies) I leave out a snack tray all day, with the snacks that we still have available, and the kids pretty much pick off of it all day. If they say they are really hungry and it's only two hours or less before dinner, I'll remind them to drink a glass of water and they'll really appreciate dinner more ;-)

On age, little kids seem to eat a lot because they need to eat more frequently (although they eat less). Once they hit about eleven, they start eating MORE than adults need because their bodies are undergoing this tremendous growth spurt, needing more energy for growing and producing hormones (and dealing with the emotions of said hormones) I know that my eleven year old eats as much as my husband, and our whole family is very thin and healthy (okay, maybe not me so much lol!) But we *are* all healthy.

Look at a shopping club membership, it's usually less than $30 a year, and a lot of employers pay for them. If not that, join something online like fatwallet.com, stretcher.com, or allthingsfrugal.com

Answer 3

Lose the junk food completely. You'd be surprised how much of what people buy is junk: frozen pizzas, chips, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc., etc. They're easy and quick, but they're also expensive and nutritionally empty. Instead of junk food, provide fruits and vegetables for snacking; if the kids complain, that just means you're doing the right thing in removing those items from your pantry. Fruits and veggies contain this nifty thing called fiber, which naturally curbs appetite by making you feel fuller longer.

Answer 4

$900 is insane. Are you buying high end brand names only? You need to remember that with many brands..you are paying for the name only.

Here are some tips:

Buy mostly sale items
Use coupons

I have a family of 4 and over 15 animals I need to provide for. On top of food for the family, I need to buy dog food for 4 dogs, cat food and litter for 4 cats and various bird food for 4 birds. I spend about $500 a month.

Answer 5

What are you feeding them? 900 a month seems far too high for me, but it depends on what you are buying at the grocery store.

Do you cook the meals yourself? Meaning, do you make from scratch or do you buy heat-up stuff, pre-made meals and stuff? What about snacks? Do you buy frozen dinners, pizzas and other garbage, or do you provide fresh fruits and snacks?

Also look at the quality you are serving to your family in regard to how fast they fill up. Whole grains will fill you up faster than enriched white bread, fresh veggies faster than canned/frozen, oatmeal instead of cold cereal, that kind of thing.

Maybe you could post a grocery receipt and tell us what you're buying.

Oh, and a little off the subject, but do ignore that guy who called you fat. Men who call women fat do so because they think they have small body parts (you get my drift). :)

Answer 6

If you have healthy active children this is normal.The most common phrase in my house is"I'm hungry" It could be 10 minits after eating a meal. It is frustrating and hard on your wallet I know. If you are conserned try tracking their eating habits. When are they eating,Are they eating between meals,if so do they eat their main meals afterwards, do they eat what they take. Things like that.Just to be sure that the food is not being wasted and that they are not eating out of bordom. To cut down on the snacking,give them food that their body needs to work to digest for snacks{apples and such} Stay away from prossesed snacks as they digest to quickly and an no time they will be rite back in the cubbords.

Answer 7

i know the feeling my kids used to do the same thing but now i limit what they eat and the choices they make, instead of making a sandwich and chips for after school i make them eat a peice of friut to hold them over till dinner and we also cut out a lot of drinks with sugar its either water or 100% juice which still contains sugar but at least its 100%. We try snacks that are low fat but filing like yogurt and they have a lot of subs. for chips like low fat triscuits and my kids seem to like these alternatives but they are young ( 3 and 5) and if there is nothing else my 13 y/o will jump on board too. I also had to shop at bargain grocers and clip coupons to save money because believe me i used to be you, anyway i hope these tips work.

Answer 8

i have 3 children, but i live in the uk, me and my partner spend about £300 per month and we always have loads of food in, i think in your money thats about $500 but if like you say its so expensive where you are from, then im not really sure. if im struggling a little with money, i buy them the cheaper brands of food, which tastes exactly the same and they never know the difference. try sticking to basics for a week and youll see the difference in spenditure. then after a week, stick to the basics but add a few of your normal food. should cut the grocery bill down no end hun.

Answer 9

Buy fresh produce and as little pre-packaged food as possible. Make sure they are getting adequate protein & a good vitamin/mineral supplement similar to American Longevity products (they are good, but too expensive).Pica is a condition recognized in animals but not applied to us, yet the symptoms are the same- incesssant eating/unhealthy appetites trying to solve a nutritional (usually mineral) deficiency.

Answer 10

I live in California too and spend about $500.00 on groceries...for TWO...I have never attempted to "curb" my own or my daughter's appetite as we eat healthy foods that are good for us and we're totally healthy. Wholesome healthy foods are not an option when raising a family they are a necessity...I suggest you try to cut corners elsewhere in your budget.