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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to lock some food away so the kids don't eat it all on the same day I buy it?

48 replies

BuggerAllTheBestNamesAreTaken · 27/06/2011 22:04

I am sick of buying food like yoghurts, snacks etc and them all being eaten within a few hours of getting them. Especially stuff that is supposed to be for their pack lunches for the week!

Does anyone have a solution, I've told them so many times! seriously considering finding a lockable plastic box to put them all in (food not kids)

OP posts:

SinicalSal · 27/06/2011 22:07

My cousin's mum hid all the nice food all over the house. Biscuits in the laundry basket. Bottles of Fanta in the potatoes. Etc

redwineformethanks · 27/06/2011 22:09

Could you just buy enough for 3 days and let them know that if it runs out you won't have time to go and buy more, so if they eat all the cheese and there's nothing to go in sandwiches, they may have to eat 5 apples for lunch instead

I'm a great believer in understanding actions and consequences

cybboid · 27/06/2011 22:09

Why can't you just tell them no? Do they still do it?

Beamur · 27/06/2011 22:09

I have shelf that no one is allowed to help themselves (mostly to keep treats away from youngest) from and a shelf where kids can help themselves.
Sounds like they are hungry kids!

AuntiePickleBottom · 27/06/2011 22:11

a fridge lock

Rosemallow · 27/06/2011 22:14

My parents used to put snacks in a 'special' cupboard where we weren't allowed to help ourselves. Worked until we got to about 14-15, when helped ourselves anyway.
I suppose you could put fruit in their lunchboxes when they've eaten everything else and tell them it's tough as it's all that is left, maybe they'll think twice about scoffing it all then.

molemesseskilledIpom · 27/06/2011 22:14

YANBU. I have to hide stuff or there's nothing left.

Which reminds me...there's some shortbread hidden away from the kids in the baking cupboard - Thanks for reminding me. I was feeling peckish.

Original poster

BuggerAllTheBestNamesAreTaken · 27/06/2011 22:15

Greedy kids more like! They are both grazers always eating, amazed they are not fat the amount they eat!

I do tell them no but they sneak it out of the fridge when I'm not there, quite like the idea of just running out and giving them a rubbish packed lunch because there is no food left.

Maybe I'm not being specific enough about what food they can and can't eat, the shelf idea could be worth a try, thanks

OP posts:

hiddenhome · 27/06/2011 22:15

I lock stuff in the shed.

ds1 knows that if he eats all his packed lunch stuff I won't buy more until the next week, so he can go without.

cybboid · 27/06/2011 22:16

leave a loaf out and say if they want a snack its toast or nothing

hiddenhome · 27/06/2011 22:17

Also, if you have a freezer, you can put yoghurts in there and just defrost them as you need them. We have a chest freezer in the locked shed

I have a rule in the house that you can help yourself to any amount of fruit or vegetables, but if you want anything else, you must ask permission.

skybluepearl · 27/06/2011 22:18

my mum kept everything in her room secretly stored somewhere

quimbledonsemi · 27/06/2011 22:19

There's only a few things I have available for between meal snacks in my house of which dd can help herself to (obly healthy stuff so I don't have to limit it). DD doesn't help herself to other things and if she did, when I specifically told her not too, she'd get a consequence of some kind. You shouldn't have to lock food away!

worraliberty · 27/06/2011 22:21

I honestly can't imagine this?

If you tell them no, it should bloody well mean no.

If they don't do as they're told, do you not punish them?

emmanumber3 · 27/06/2011 22:22

Urm, may be being simplistic here but can't you just have a general "no taking without asking" rule?

My two DSs are by no means little angels but wouldn't dare help themselves to food without asking (except fruit which they know is always allowed).

Quite apart from anything else, I can't afford to replace things - they get bought once & once only!

wigglesrock · 27/06/2011 22:23

My mum used to hide things in the freezer, she didn't buy anymore when stuff had run out, but even now I have a strange desire for frozen Twixes

Fifis25StottieCakes · 27/06/2011 22:28

My mam used to lock food away when we were young so i wont do it. I keep the fresh stuff hid in the salad draw and the crisps and biscuits hidden. I just take out what they need for a day and leave it out to help themselves. I dont like them asking for food as i had to.

They eat loads of fruit and tend to graze on it so i may have to start rationing that soon.

itisnearlysummer · 27/06/2011 22:31

My mum used to hide 'treat' food in my wardrobe so that my dad wouldn't eat it.

It never occurred to my brother or me to eat it.

I wouldn't much fancy her chances now though!

My DH hides stuff from me now. If I know tasty treats are there I can hear them calling and it would be so rude to ignore them!

worraliberty · 27/06/2011 22:33

What's wrong with asking for treats? 'Asking for food' makes it sound a bit Dickensian...but we're talking about snacks and treats here. They're not begging for their dinner or anything?

Imo it's common courtesy to ask. Anyway, it means the treats get distributed fairly amongst the kids.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 27/06/2011 22:39

Thats what it makes me feel like if they have to ask so i just put a few yogurts out, a packet of bisuits in the barrel and some dried fruit/nuts. They know what they can have and whats theirs and once its gone they dont ask for any more.

vess · 27/06/2011 22:44

I hide them in different places around the kitchen. And I rarely buy stuff for the whole week, mostly for 2-3 days ahead. DS will eat everything if he knew it was there, and it's not even meant for him - it's for his sister's lunchbox. He has a school dinner.
I can try the just say no approach, but it will become a constant battle which is not really worth fighting.

Original poster

BuggerAllTheBestNamesAreTaken · 27/06/2011 22:45

My kids are quite often in the house alone so I'm not always here to ask. Maybe I need to be a bit more specific with them about what they can and can't help themselves to.

OP posts:

WhoAteMySnickers · 27/06/2011 22:47

How old are they? Give them a packed lunch of dry oatcakes, fruit and raw veg and tell them that's all there is because they ate everything else. They'll soon get the idea.

I really can't believe people seriously lock food away or hide it. Really?

2rebecca · 27/06/2011 22:55

My kids don't help themselves to all stuff and I never did as a kid. I don't mind them taking yoghurts as they are cheap and go off if not eaten, but there is definite stuff they can eat and stuff they can't. They know not to eat much in between meals anyway.
It sounds as though you need to be stricter and more specific at what they can and can't eat. If they eat all the yoghurts as snacks then there are none left for packed lunches and they have apples or whatever is left. If they aren't fat I wouldn't worry, but adopt a once it's gone it's gone approach or clarify what they can and can't eat.

PamBeesly · 27/06/2011 23:06

YANBU my mother used to hide food in the tumble drier from my brothers or else there would be none for anyone else...
If they are actually hungry tell them to have toast and peanut butter instead

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