To ban cooking for teenage boys

OP had already said there are several alternatives they stepped over.

Peoples attitudes on threads like these go a long way to explaining why younger people are growing up unprepared for adulthood and the workplace with a strong sense of entitlement.

My teens both eat like horses. It's what teens do. Sandwiches and cereal wouldn't touch the sides either - they're seen as snacks rather than actual meals.

Can't imagine banning them from cooking - the oven is reasonably expensive to run but it's still a lot less hassle them cooking than expecting me to do it. But I have an airfryer and microwave and that's what my kids use. I haven't noticed a massive impact on my elecricity bill - would it be worth switching suppliers?

Honestly the fact they are cooking if good and better than eating shit loads of processed snack foods like crisps etc.

my brothers ate so much food all the time as teenagers. 8 weetabix with two bananas right after a huge dinner. And today’s boys seem obsessed with protein as well.

I think it’s reasonable for you to put labels on things needed for meals and I think it’s reasonable for you to expect the to do their dishes/tidy up, but just ask them what cheap foods they want in for their multiple meals a day. Some people don’t like cold food. I see nothing wrong with them eating kilos of pasta if they are still hungry. It’s cheap and filling and easy to prepare. A sandwich isn’t any better for them.

its quite normal for people within families to have different appetites and food preferences.

i would be pissed off if they were cooking up 6 chicken breasts for a snack that were intended for a meal but if you want to talk to them about meal prepping snacks/things to microwave and get it all done on a Sunday that might minimise your annoyance at them.

I have some sympathy here. It sounds like your ds are demanding extra hot snacks around meals. That would annoy me.

If you're prepared to pay for it, yes. Otherwise be respectful

Do you think these midnight brownies could have an “extra” ingredient? This causing such hunger that isn’t satisfied by regular meals.

Not ridiculous at all @outerspacepotato pretty much nailed it.

The most ridiculous comment on MN today! Congratulations 😂

Have you read the update where OP states she cooked a stir for 4 using 6 chicken breasts, veg and noodles, followed by himeade cheesecake and not only did her son add a whole bag of prawns from
the freezer 'cos Protein' he then cooked him self a massive bowl of pasta and hour later and was baking at midnight?!

But you can.

You’re trying to make this sound outlandish but 6 chicken breasts between 4 people, 3 of which are growing male teenagers who need a huge amount of calories is really nothing crazy.
The amount of veg and noodles in a stir fry can also be quite light.

Ok, so if you can buy luxury foods for yourself, you can afford for the dc to make a pan of pasta when they're hungry.

What an idiotic response. You don't need to cook all the food you eat. 🙄

You're providing so little food for your teen boys, two of whom are minors, that they are buying their own food and cooking it, even an hour after your dinner. You bitch about the food, how much it costs in energy, the cleanup, but you give yourself treat foods while not providing for your kids' physical needs.

You have minor kids buying their own very basic food while you treat yourself. And you have the nerve to bitch about them cooking.

Parenting fail.

It's the mess and amount of food consumed around mealtimes when they're 'not that hungry' and then hitting the hobs/oven afterwards. Just eat more of the meal that I've cooked, and less of the 'extras' - although the cakes are always welcome!

That’s what you took out of my post! No, there’s nothing wrong with everyone in the household having a treat which is just for them. But oats are literally the cheapest food in the world, even organic fancy oats are pennies. And you’re already forcing them to buy pasta fgs. Having something that’s such a basic staple and not allowing your sons to eat it just smacks of disapproval and control. If oats really are your “fancy chocolate” then sure, but keep them separate rather than with the general family food.

Teenage boys and food | Mumsnet

How much does your teen boy eat? | Mumsnet

Greedy or hungry? Teens eating SO much food... what to do? | Mumsnet

Bit of a recurring Mumsnet theme really @carconcerns.

Get used to what? Them eating vast amounts wth no regard to the cost or respect for what their mother has provided?

Yep, entitlement is learned early.

I personally wouldn't be impressed by baking at midnight as I'd want to be asleep. But if they aren't gaining weight and aren't stoned (tho now wondering if that's happening after your update!) and are genuinely hungry an hour after eating... then the portions just aren't enough. 6 chicken breasts for 4 people should be enough, but my daughter would happily eat 2 herself so I could see how you would actually need a couple more for teenage boys.

These organic oats from Aldi are really nice, I use in overnight oats.

If this is a typical example of an evening in your house I'd be making these lads a GP appt.

I get that teen boys have hollow legs and the protein obsession (21yo DD weight trains) but that is an insane amount of food. Cooking at midnight, unless they're coming in off a late work shift is also bonkers.

I think the air fryer suggestion is good, and getting them to batch cook is a great idea - there are plenty of young, male fitness type influencers online who do this for content so it could be an easy win.

I do think you need to sit down with them and have a discussion about how food and cooking needs to be managed, whether there is anything you can get in to support their needs, but also emphasise that some consideration and respect is needed.

As for the enormous fuss on here about oats - I'm baffled - do fancy organic, steel cut ones really taste that different?

I also think having a pop at the OP for buying the cheap one is a daft - a lot of protein recipes involve blending ingredients, including the oats so can't see that fancy ones would make a significant impact.

Teenage boys have bottomless stomachs. Pasta is healthy , filling and cheap so I'd leave them to it.