Page 3 | To be sick of wasting food and having no idea what snacks to buy for 11 year old?

EggsAndBacon83 · 2025-05-24T12:40:13+00:00

It’s half term and my 11 year old wants to rustle up some snacks herself. What sort of snacks do people buy for their 11-13 year old kids to make?

BuffaloCauliflower · 24/05/2025 14:23

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 14:09

At 11?? You know at 11 they will be cooking in food tech?
All of my children can use the hob from age 10 and know how to be safe in the kitchen. You have to start somewhere.

Yes, but with adult supervision. My DS & now my GC have cooked with me since they were able to stand on a stool to reach work surfaces. They've grated things, stirred sauces, made pastry, learned how to use knives safely etc.

But I thought OP was looking for things that their 11 year old could prepare without adult being present.

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A typically developing 11 year old should absolutely be able to use the oven on their own without setting fire to anything.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 24/05/2025 14:19

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

The child's 11 years old.

CarpetKnees · 24/05/2025 14:18

HiRen · 24/05/2025 13:53

What do you mean by snacks? Mine just ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. If they were hungry between, they’d eat a banana, apple, leftovers, popcorn, some nuts. Just whatever was available. I think I don’t understand the question!

I was also wondering this.

Do you mean making their own lunch, for example ?

I mean a 'snack' for me, would be something you pick up and eat between meals. A biscuit, and apple, or some flapjack maybe, none of which need 'making' at the time of the snack.

At 15 / 16, my ds would whip up some super noodles to carry him through until tea time, which seemed to fill the enormous hollow that is an adolescent boy's stomach, but 11 year olds don't tend to need that.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/05/2025 14:18

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

She's 11, not 2 and a half. You can replace her toddler spork with a knife now, you know.

minipie · 24/05/2025 14:17

Toast and butter/peanut butter/peanut butter and banana
Cheese and crackers
Nuts
Fruit
Hummus and carrots

We have other more packaged snacks (popcorn, soreen, cereal bars etc) but I try to save those for packed lunches or journeys

Nothing that requires cooking really - not so much for safety reasons but more because it takes too long and most things requiring cooking are more of a meal than a snack

I might encourage mine to get into baking! They often like the idea but never quite get round to it (to be fair they are busy)

CarpetKnees · 24/05/2025 14:15

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

What ??

Mine could all cook a few meals at that age.

The OP said 11, not 5.

MintTwirl · 24/05/2025 14:11

My kids can rustle up a cake or cookies without help, flapjacks too. Ramen noodles, simple stir fries too. They also like making cheese toasties in the toastie maker.

arethereanyleftatall · 24/05/2025 14:10

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

This is so so far behind where they would need to be at this age.

MereNoelle · 24/05/2025 14:09

My 11 year old only really eats fruit between meals, but she is capable of making her own breakfast and lunch so toast, bagels, sandwiches, cheese and crackers etc.

HappyNewTaxYear · 24/05/2025 14:09

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

Well indeed. You just need to wait until their 16th birthday when they will wake up magically able to use a sharp knife and a hot hob without any prior attempts. 🙄

Be a proper parent!!

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 14:09

Scarydinosaurs · 24/05/2025 13:50

At 11?? You know at 11 they will be cooking in food tech?

All of my children can use the hob from age 10 and know how to be safe in the kitchen. You have to start somewhere.

Show quote history

At 11?? You know at 11 they will be cooking in food tech?
All of my children can use the hob from age 10 and know how to be safe in the kitchen. You have to start somewhere.

Yes, but with adult supervision. My DS & now my GC have cooked with me since they were able to stand on a stool to reach work surfaces. They've grated things, stirred sauces, made pastry, learned how to use knives safely etc.

But I thought OP was looking for things that their 11 year old could prepare without adult being present.

ThingsgetbetterwithalittlebitofRazzmatazz · 24/05/2025 14:08

Mine like the microwave rice packs, eggs, pasta, noodles, houmous.
They also often make pancakes or will bake cakes, cookies etc.

arethereanyleftatall · 24/05/2025 14:07

mine batch makes home made flap jacks and banana bread to snack on throughout the week. Otherwise fruit bowl

Glitterybee · 24/05/2025 14:05

Fruit, crackers, cheese, popcorn, cereal bars, crisps

If extra hungry things like noodles, bagel, toast

I know in general we’ve become a nation of people who eat too much, but pre teen and teen kids get hungry due to growing. 4 meals a day isn’t uncommon at that age

Bernadinetta · 24/05/2025 14:01

Mine likes those porridge pots where you add boiling water and stir. Obviously more expensive than just buying a bag of porridge oats but she likes the autonomy of being able to make them easily and there are different flavours like choc hazelnut and caramelised biscuit

SunnieShine · 24/05/2025 13:59

Have you asked her what she wants?

GreenLeavesEveryday · 24/05/2025 13:59

HiRen · 24/05/2025 13:53

What do you mean by snacks? Mine just ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. If they were hungry between, they’d eat a banana, apple, leftovers, popcorn, some nuts. Just whatever was available. I think I don’t understand the question!

Kids seem to graze all day now don't they?

GreenLeavesEveryday · 24/05/2025 13:57

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

Crikey!
There's another thread on young people not being very resilient
This post does seem to be why!

GroovyChick87 · 24/05/2025 13:56

Cereal
microwave hotdogs and burgers
sandwiches/ toast
Pot Noodle/ noodles

Happyinarcon · 24/05/2025 13:55

I have started making batches of chicken bone broth and mixing it with cup of soups or pot noodles. Keeps them full and I never realized how easy it was

Enigma53 · 24/05/2025 13:53

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

Why pre sliced cheese? Using a grater or sharp knife ( if taught correctly) is a life skill.

HiRen · 24/05/2025 13:53

What do you mean by snacks? Mine just ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. If they were hungry between, they’d eat a banana, apple, leftovers, popcorn, some nuts. Just whatever was available. I think I don’t understand the question!

Scarydinosaurs · 24/05/2025 13:53

Snacks my eleven year old eats:

apple and yogurt to “dip”
hummus and carrot sticks
toast never fails!

Scarydinosaurs · 24/05/2025 13:50

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 13:46

I wouldn't be happy with them cooking or heating up food without adult supervision due to the risk of them burning themselves or <worse> causing a fire. But they can make sandwiches with pre-sliced cheese, peanut butter etc, Tortilla chips & dips.

At 11?? You know at 11 they will be cooking in food tech?

All of my children can use the hob from age 10 and know how to be safe in the kitchen. You have to start somewhere.

Stompythedinosaur · 24/05/2025 13:50

Toast with various things on
Cereal
Crisps
French toast
Scrambled egg
Pot noodle

All regular snacks here.