To ban cooking for teenage boys

[Boysfood]

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 .

Getting more disabled, I'd give my right arm for either of my kids to cook for themselves but nope. I'm still feeding both of them and the other adult in the house.

OP.. if they prefer your organic oats then just buy those.. it's false economy to buy cheap food that goes to waste because no-one eats it.

So you finally went shopping yourself and fed your children is what I’m thinking

It's a hungry age, I feel for you OP. You need boundaries and an air fryer. Good luck, this too shall pass!

"They didn’t clean up and when I told them they had to my 19 year old just ordered a huge amount of foil roasting trays, takeaway type tubs and paper plates and bowls and said they’ll all use those so I can stop complaining."

It's good that they can cook for themselves and they have at least tried to find a solution. Look on the bright side you save on washing up costs!
I'd think the protein powders were more of a waste of money (their decision of course).
Good idea to buy catering sizes of pasta, oats etc.
Maybe have soup for them to heat up.

So buy them fucking organic oats

I’m afraid I now think this is a joke. You buy organic for yourself, but your kids get the cheap stuff? Most parents do it the other way round.

my husband never cooks I cooked every meal. his mum was SAHM and cooked everything for them. at uni he ate only sausages and beans and chips and the fire brigade were called out one day when he set the house on fire

I firmly believe that if I won't eat it, i'm not making my kids eat it.

I wouldn't touch cheap oats with a barge pole.

Or maybe OP doesn’t go through a box of oats as quickly as the kids do?

The utter bitchiness on this post is disgusting. Tearing someone up for asking for advice in this day and age is vile.

Agree with this! My smart meter reads at least £2.12 an hour when shower is on (depending on what else is also on) When cooker is on & heating it’s around 50 odd pence p/h. 3 young adults in my house who like to shower for 15 mins at a time!

So you don’t want them cooking food before it’s more expensive but you buy the more expensive, premium versions of food for yourself?

Wow! I would be happy if my DS16 would cook for himself atleast once a week! @Boysfood Send your boys over so they can teach my lazy son how to cook. You should be proud of them!

It's a bit weird to but yourself the good stuff and make them have the cheaper stuff isn't it? I suspect the cheap ones are the dusty small ones vs the jukmbo oats you buy yourself. They are quite different and unsurprisingly the more expensive ones are better. It sounds lie you have a very odd set up in your house. Not much sense of a family in what you describe.

Well yeah, there’s 3 of them and one of her.
It’s pretty shitty to begrudge your children cooking sausages they’ve spent their own income or pocket money in while buying yourself the premium version of everything.

Peanut butter isn’t expensive? I get it at Lidl. Money is a bit tight yes

..,....

I have hollow legged, 'protein is everything' teenage boys too. Definitely would also suggest an air fryer. Mine gets used alot. We mainly only use the oven for lasagne/cakes and the hob for vegetables/egg/noodles. They can marinate chicken etc and cook it fairly fast in an air fryer. You can also get air fryer liners so it won't need a full clean after every time it's used. See if they'd be open to cooking enough for two portions, they can have a portion now then they just need to reheat for later/the next day?

You shouldn't have to, but I'd stash the organic, expensive oats. There's basic oats available for them. Regarding them not cleaning up afterwards, I'd be stashing away anything that's left out. When they've cleaned up is when they'd get them back. They're old enough to know that if they cook, they can clean while something cooks. It'll be rough at first but if they won't learn now, then when. You need to be firm and consistent. You're not asking for much, just some consideration.

They want bigger amounts so it makes sense to get more of a cheaper ingredient for them. My ones last me ages as I have a smaller amount or at least should do but they will use mine

I think this is shocking! Maybe you shouldn’t have had 3 kids if you can’t afford them. Cooking three warm meals should not be a luxury. I feel very sorry for your boys.

Oops forgot to show costs

If you go onto the Money board on this site, there are lots of good threads for those who are living on benefits or are on a very low income . If you start a thread you'll get some good tips.

Strange second paragraph.

re first - of course she doesn’t go through it as quickly. Firstly there’s 3 of them and 1 of her. And secondly they’re teenage boys - it isn’t a secret that they need loads of food. I stand by that if she can afford to buy good quality for herself, then you can afford to buy good quality for your children.

Does your youngest get free school meals? They can normally get a breakfast at school as well.

This is so unbelievably mean.

Thus us one of the weirdest threads started on here and that's saying something 🤔