Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ban cooking for teenage boys

995 replies

Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:03

I have 3 teen ds 15,17 and 19.

They cook all the time. Breakfast lunch , I make dinner they then cook in evenings and when getting home. My electric bill is too high.

I’ve asked them to have cereal or toast or instant porridge etc for breakfast. Sandwiches etc for lunch and snacks to be something that doesn’t need cooking. We always have these type of things available but they ignore me and start cooking. I can’t remove the oven etc and they often do this when I’m out or in bed. Only 19 year old works so I can charge him more rent to cover his share but others still in education and I don’t know what to do .

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
mzpq · 18/02/2026 10:26

Ok well if they can afford to be going out and buying all these foods to cook, they can afford to pay more towards the electric.

Work out how much they're costing you (do you have a smart meter?) and charge them accordingly.

Upstartled · 18/02/2026 10:26

Do you have electric hob or an induction hob, op?

shhblackbag · 18/02/2026 10:26

Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:23

they are cooking an hour sometimes after dinner , it seems excessive. If I say to have a banana or two they’ll say no but then use the bananas to make some kind of protein powder banana brownie things

In fairness, a banana protein brownie sounds much more filling than a banana. I actually think you're unreasonable the more you post. Charge them more if you must, but it's winter, I'd want the food they're eating too.

redskyAtNigh · 18/02/2026 10:26

Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:20

They often do go and get the food to cook (mostly things like sausages bacon etc for cooked breakfast) because I don’t have processed meat products here. They cook huge amounts of pasta as well or they’ll make protein brownies and things like that . They just seem to never be able to have a non cooked snack even

Show quote history

Are they into sport/fitness training?

Regardless, it sounds like your suggested meal plan just won't give them enough food. Can you sit down together and come up with one that meets everyone's needs? If they are making a cooked breakfast then I can see that avocado and toast is not an appealing alternative, but maybe there is a compromise e.g that they batch bake muffins with bacon and egg in, or they have a cooked breakfast only a couple of time a week.

Or you could just suggest they pay for extra food/energy costs if cost is an issue?

ShawnaMacallister · 18/02/2026 10:26

Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:11

It’s the cost mostly followed by the fact they are ignoring me repeatedly

Show quote history

What you're asking of them is unreasonable and controlling and they SHOULD be ignoring you

Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:24

goz · 18/02/2026 10:23

I honestly can’t imagine basic cooking at mealtimes is really costing that much in electricity. It seems incredibly mean spirited to only allow your children to eat cold food.

They get a big hot meal every day cooked by me

OP posts:
Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:23

dubbie · 18/02/2026 10:21

Personally I think it's great that your sons are cooking. So many don't know how to. They want HOT food. It's winter. They need hot food.

Not 4-5 times a day ?!!

OP posts:
wanderingstarz · 18/02/2026 10:23

Sounds like they are cooking protein based snacks. Are they very sporty?

BMW6 · 18/02/2026 10:23

If it's an electric hob and oven turn off the fuse for it without them seeing before you go out or to bed

goz · 18/02/2026 10:23

I honestly can’t imagine basic cooking at mealtimes is really costing that much in electricity. It seems incredibly mean spirited to only allow your children to eat cold food.

Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:23

they are cooking an hour sometimes after dinner , it seems excessive. If I say to have a banana or two they’ll say no but then use the bananas to make some kind of protein powder banana brownie things

OP posts:
Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:22

Notthepope · 18/02/2026 10:21

Donyou have electric cooker? Most of this sounds hob based cooking rather than oven

Yes a lot of it is

OP posts:
Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:21

mzpq · 18/02/2026 10:19

Also, don't the 15 and 17 year olds have most of their lunches at school?

Yes my 15 year old does but will
cook in the evening. 17 year old at college so home more often. It’s just this half term it’s been constant.

OP posts:
Notthepope · 18/02/2026 10:21

Donyou have electric cooker? Most of this sounds hob based cooking rather than oven

dubbie · 18/02/2026 10:21

Personally I think it's great that your sons are cooking. So many don't know how to. They want HOT food. It's winter. They need hot food.

ClairDeLaLune · 18/02/2026 10:20

It’s good that they want to cook, it’s a useful skill to have. Why don’t you encourage them to do it together and make one meal at a time for the whole family to eat?

Original poster
Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:20

redskyAtNigh · 18/02/2026 10:15

So don't have the food they cook in the house then? Then if they want to cook it they will have to go out and buy it themselves (which might put them off in terms of time and money.

Have you identified why they prefer hot food over your alternatives? That might help you come up with a better plan of option.

Show quote history

They often do go and get the food to cook (mostly things like sausages bacon etc for cooked breakfast) because I don’t have processed meat products here. They cook huge amounts of pasta as well or they’ll make protein brownies and things like that . They just seem to never be able to have a non cooked snack even

OP posts:
mzpq · 18/02/2026 10:19

Also, don't the 15 and 17 year olds have most of their lunches at school?

Glitterballofdreams · 18/02/2026 10:19

I would also be cross that they’re ignoring your rules. If they’re making a meal fair enough, I’d encourage this independence. However you’re already providing meals therefore realistically they shouldn’t need to be cooking extra.

Sit them all down and tell them that unless it’s something simple, they are not permitted
to use appliances when you’re out or in bed.

Could you make larger portions for their meals, bulk the dishes out so they’re more filling?

If they love pasta, get them to cook a big pan, rinse it with boiled water and that will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, which they can reheat in the microwave and will save using the hob multiple times.

Write a list of snack/light meal options that you are okay with them making in between meals and pin this up in the kitchen.

EdwinStarrTheBackStreetsNSoul · 18/02/2026 10:19

Boysfood · 18/02/2026 10:09

How much cheaper are air fryers to run ?

Air fryers are same principle as an oven but you're not heating up a big box as in a full size oven.

mzpq · 18/02/2026 10:18

I agree with the PP who said you should try not having the foods in the house.

It's a shame because it's Winter and that makes a lot of us want hot food but if you really can't cut back on anything else or buy an air fryer, I guess it's the best option.

Upstartled · 18/02/2026 10:17

I mean, unless they are roasting a chicken, I don't see that these things would make much difference to the electricity costs.

Electric showers are a massive drain, especially if someone is in there a long time, are you sure that isn't the culprit instead?

randomchap · 18/02/2026 10:16

So they are ignoring you. What punishment are they getting for that?

BigFishLittleFishCardboardBoxes · 18/02/2026 10:16

I rarely use my oven now I have an air fryer. You don’t have to wait for them to heat up so it’s cheaper and quicker.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/02/2026 10:16

They are eating not willfully destroying your home....they dont need punishment you just need to be clear how youd prefer they do it.
They need to eat.

Reducing povket money clearly isnt landing so id stop that and reset.

Bathx cooking is great so id be looking to get them into that.

Honestly I'd get an instant pot you can do about 2 kg of rice, a big batch of pulled chicken/pork or a stew.
2 big tupperware boxes. Boil a big bag of pasta and put a bit of oil on it or boil potatoes and that can go in their too...

It goes in the fridge and they can just microwave it for 2mins when they want it. (Presumably you have a microwave?)

Or just get a really big pot so they can batch cook.

Saves on mess.