How long does the 'there's nothing to eat' phase last?

[Boxjumpers918]

DS is 13. He's just declared (for the 3rd time this week) that there's nothing to eat in the house (ravenous after school, tea is at 6.30). I've pointed out the:

-Greek yoghurt
-Crisps
-eggs
-cheese and cracker
-pepperami sticks
-mini pork pies
-houmous
-fruit bowl
-3 types of cereal
-porridge
-toast
-brioche
-biscuits
-mini cheddar

I mean wtf else does he expect us to have?!!

My husband is 43 and does this, so I'd say never 😫

21 and still going but you can tailor your response more appropriately to a 21 year old 😉

When they leave home

I have a 15 year old and he still says this. Drives me mad as we have fruit, bread, ham, cheese, Cereal, porridge etc.

I learnt to stock up with frozen pizzas as he can use the oven. Less moaning now!

There might be plenty to eat for you, but does he actually like any of that? There's a huge difference between eating something you don't really like thats put in front of you at dinner and another having to actively choose it. It also depends on flavours. I like crisps but only walkers prawn cocktail so I would probably say the same as your ds. Try asking him want he would like getting in before you do the next big shop.

I'm 46 and have just wandered round my kitchen thinking there's nothing to eat. And I'm the one that buys the food. So I think the phase might last a little longer yet.

It feels like I have felt like that for several years, and I’m 40.

Are we married to the same 43yr old man as my husband is exactly the same! Lol

Pixiedust1234 yes he likes it all, everytime I do the food shop I'm thinking 'right, what can I get that he likes'.

I spent £100 in Aldi on Saturday and apparently bought 'nothing to eat'. I give up!

I think stocking the freezer with pizza might be worth a try!

@Pixiedust1234
Unfortunately even taking them to the shop and letting them choose rarely solves the issue. DD17 came with me to Tesco this week having complained two days earlier that there was nothing for lunch. I asked her to choose things she would like and her reply was it's ok I'll have the chicken that's at home 🤯

Takingabreakagain 😄 they're exasperating aren't they!

You have way more on offer than we've ever had in this house 😂

When my DS was in his teens I just made sure there were products to bung in the toaster.

I’d have been well happy with that selection as a after-school hungry teen OP
We only ever had three choices: cornflakes, toast or do without!

You've never met my 30 year old DD clearly. 😃

I have both a teenager and DH who do this so some time…..(even though DH also does the shopping); I try not to engage and just say we’ll put some ideas on the shopping list.
Recent things that have gone down well are freezer things like mini mircrowave pizzas

I agree.

Based on small sample size (my husband; my father) somewhere between 35 and 70 years.

This will last......until your eulogy is being read at your funeral 😉

My near teenager never complains there’s nothing to eat. He just seems to eat all the leftovers he finds in the fridge, cheese, and copious quantities of rice.

I think years of me telling him to solve his own problems (in age appropriate ways!) have left him certain that he’ll just be sent back to figure out what he is going to eat if he complains at me there’s nothing to eat. This is less a parenting boast than an unintended consequence of my lax approach to things.

This is literally the opposite of how I’d approach that. If most definitely be telling DS that there are crisps there and he’ll need to live with it if his preferred flavour is no longer available.

A few weeks after you just respond "yes there is, help yourself" and don't try solve it or react to any complaints after.

Usually until they start paying/have to go to the supermarket themselves. So could be a long haul there OP!

Doesn’t work here. We get stuck in the circle if hell that basically goes:

‘Theres nothing to eat’
’Yes there is, there’s (reels off long list of food that’s in the house)’
Son refuses every option.
’Ok so next time I go food shopping, what would you like me to get in for when you’re hungry?’
’Dunno.‘
’Well if you don’t know what you want how can I get it?’
’Dunno but there’s nothing to eat here’

Raaahhhhh!!!!!

Go with ‘dinner is at X o’clock; until then, you’re on your own’.

or ‘I made you dinner. I’ve done my bit to keep you alive. 🤷🏻‍♀️‘

I must admit, I had an ASDA delivery yesterday and this afternoon just thought that 😂 I just don't fancy anything I bought