How to stop kids eating all the food! (Lighthearted-ish)

[MamaJoon]

Help needed!

One of my children has been eating whatever they like out of the fridge. I go to make lunch for the younger ones and there is no ham when I bought a big pack 2 days ago! Other things are missing too, mainly pissed off one of them has helped themselves to 2(!) bars of my white chocolate Oreo.

Any ideas greatly appreciated!!

(Fridge lock has been bought from eBay)

How old are they?

I'm guessing they're about 15?

My daughter is driving me nuts. I'm combining wfh with caring for my elderly and in dads case very sick parents so trying to distance as much as possible. I have been able to get deliveries so far but every time I meal plan I get to the fridge to find ingredients have bloody disappeared.

I hid the biscuits that arrived yesterday and have got 11 days rather than a week between my next orders and limited storage space so have decided to be militant about meal planning so she leaves thing alone!

@MintyCedric that's exactly what's happening here! I went to get cheese weds eve for dinner and it's almost all gone. I'd been shopping that day but didn't buy anymore as I had a full bag in the fridge (well as far as I knew!)

They are 15, 13, 10 and 6. I'm pretty sure it's the eldest as he stays up all night and doesn't give a shit about anyone but can't prove it.

I know how you're feeling! Two teenagers here who just eat all day long! I've taken to hiding nice/snacky type stuff in my dryer (which broke months ago, so won't be in use anytime soon!)
If they're that hungry they can eat fruit! But they're not, it's just habit!

@MamaJoon

Had to laugh as I basically came on here to start a similar thread and saw yours first.

She not eating me out of home and part of it is planning on my part. We've had words and she messaged me half an hour ago to ask if she could open the bacon. Told her I was planning bacon and brie paninis for lunch tomorrow and she's had one of the (2) paninis!

Tbf part of it is lack of planning on my part - I don't usually bother with breakfast and we use the school canteen when we're at work/school so I'm massively underestimating what we need for those meals.

In addition I've been sharing my delivery slots with my parents as theyve not been able to get any. Half of an 80 item limit when you have household items and pet food to buy doesn't go far. I ordered bread mix this week which hasn't turned up so I'm even more stuffed!

Label your fridge shelves with ingredients for planned meals and a designated help yourself to snack shelf.

Alternatively I hide things in the salad drawer under stuff like kale!

Tried that it still goes.

One night he was microwaving frozen mash at 2am

Send him out to the shops to replace the ingredients that he's eaten. Every single time.

I should think a few trips to the supermarket, waiting in the bastard queue(!) would stop him.

Brilliant idea!!