How do you batch-cook with hollow-legged teenagers?

[CookingApron]

I used to be able to make a couple of lasagnas or a massive pot of chili and I could either freeze half for another meal, or there would be leftovers enough to do another meal that week.

I now have three teenagers in the house and I simply can't cook enough food for there to be any left. My biggest pots and pans are licked clean, and everyone is making cheese toasties an hour and a half later.

My fridge and freezer are too small to accommodate enough food.

I use my biggest crocpot to make 'extra' dahl for after school snacking.

I'm not going to upgrade to catering pots because at some point we'll be back to DH and me, making normal sized meals again.

Because this is Mumsnet, I'll add that they're all very sporty and a healthy weight.

I'm forever cooking. Made a massive moussaka yesterday that was a bit of a faff. Would have loved to make the effort once to get 2 meals but nope. Gone.

Following for the great ideas!

I feel your pain, I have taken to dividing the meal immediately into what can be eaten now and what is being saved for another day.

Mine are really into their fitness so won't fill up on carbs, its all about the protein here which is expensive! They have got really into meal prepping for breakfast and lunch though and follow receipes from instagram which is all portioned out. Because they are eating proper meals for breakfast and lunch, I do think their dinner portions have become more sensible. But in reality it's probably just spread out over their many meals of the day. It is very expensive and I seem to be constantly topping up the fridge.

I gave up on this hope long ago with only 2 kids, I live with a very fit and active husband and 2 ever growing boys, the best I can manage is spag bol lasting 2 nights and that's only because they can fill up on garlic bread.

@Scandiviews1 how come? Because they don't like what's in it?

2 of mine have left home now (should update username as only one is still a teen), and I managed this as follows. ...
Firstly, I weighed ingredients, so i knew exactly how many portions a meal would make. I never put a big dish out for the boys to help themselves because it would be gone. I always plated up to have some control. Leftovers went in containers in the fridge or freezer and were always labelled with what they were and whether it was for a meal. Stuff labelled for meals was not fair game to anyone who was hungry! Boys generally made themselves a 4th meal and, provided they cleared up after then, they could do this whenever fitted in with their day. Always had in plenty of pasta, jars of sauce, rice, noodles, etc, so they could do this. Fruit bowl always topped up, eggs, bread, beans etc. So you have foods in they can as much as they want of but other things they get a standard portion and that's it. Having bread on the table can help too.

How old are your teens? Could they maybe each cook once a week and the other 2 clear up so you at least get a break?

TBH, they're eating and appreciative of your food which sounds lovely!

Well I did have an Ottolenghi phase which may have contributed to the dread.... I grew up on stews so can't really see the problem myself!!

Also on the meal planner (scrap of paper on fridge) I always put a note for how many portions/days the meal is for so everyone knows that gor example half the lasagne is going in the freezer for next week. Once they understand what you are doing I find they don't expect to be able to just eat as much as they want of what you cook.

I do see why people might limit the food provided at meals but I've always assessed food supply for growing boys as if assessing a labrador. If they aren't fat and they are active and playing sport I think all good.

I generally feel boys should eat as much as they want at meals if it's wholesome food and they aren't snacking on rubbish. The speed they grow means they can look spindly and they need the extra energy and calories. That's my own view though. It's a rod for my back..!

I’d invest in even just 1 bigger pot….my ds is another one of the “must be protein not carbs” well muscled gym brigade, and this maybe isn’t what you’re asking, but I bulk out any mince based dishes with a large amount of red or green lentils- loads more protein for very little cost or effort!

My large male teens would eat a massive dinner (dished up by me to preserve leftovers for freezer!), then immediately go and make tuna and cheese toasties with 4 rounds of bread. We were all happy with this solution. This was the period of life when they made themselves breakfast omelettes using 5 eggs each. Happy days!!!!

My kids are currently very little but I do have three boys so I fear this may be me one day 😅

I'm one of four and my mum was always firm with portions for cost reasons. She would always cook two meals and freeze the second before we could get anywhere near it 🤣 then she would divide up the meal and plate it up so everyone got a fair amount. Things like salad, bread, mash potatoes, rice etc were self serve and we could grab what we wanted of these to go with our portion of chilli or whatever she cooked.

She used to make lots of things like macaroni cheese, pasta bakes with chicken, fajitas, quiches, shepherd's pie etc that were all things she batch cooked.

We currently rely on batch cooking but for different reasons. Our kids don't eat anything we cook as they're fussy toddlers but we have no time to cook anything! So we mostly cook slow cooker recipes from the Taming Twins website which are quick and simple but still delicious (possibly less aggravating when they inhale it all if it was low effort to make?).

I also only ever make a simple version of moussaka which is a hello fresh recipe (think it's on their website as cheats moussaka).

@Jeezitneverends I'm interested in the lentils! So do you just put a handful in whilst cooking? Making a spag Bol later and this could be good to try!

Teenage snacking in our house is cheese, tomatoes & part-cooked baguettes. Or toast and peanut butter. Bananas, packets of mixed nuts. Hard boiled eggs & cucumbers.

When I cook meals, I make enough for two meals, we eat one and I freeze the other. DS can't be bothered to defrost anything so that works.

Ideally I use canned green lentils and just add them after I’ve browned the mince, but if I don’t have them, I use a good handful of dried red lentils to the mix as it comes to the simmer….haven’t been caught yet 😂

Excellent thread, thank you!

I have three teenagers, dd, ds1 and ds2. Ds1 has recently started eating much more than before, the other two are still eating at "normal" levels. The toastie machine is always out and there's always sliced cheese and bread in the house. Ds1 also loves noodles and will make himself ramen or udon when he fancies.

Agree on lots of mash, rice and pasta for second helpings!

I brought up two huge, rugby playing boys and know the struggle. In their late teens they would generally eat double what I eat at a meal. I don’t think people realise the OP is catering for the equivalent of probably 8 people for every meal, plus all the snacks in between.

I am vegetarian so protein came from beans, eggs, milk and lots of Greek yoghurt. We’d easily go through a loaf of bread a day but it was up to them to make it in the bread maker.
i used to batch cook a ton of tomato sauce which could be used as an easy base for lots of dishes; just add lentils, beans, vegetables etc and use for pasta sauce, lasagna, curries etc etc.
I would invest in at least one large pot and a chest freezer if possible, OP. Also get them to take turns in cooking.

I cook a second batch immediately after the first. Used to have a second freezer when I had a utility room oh how I miss it

I feel your pain op. I have a similar problem! I cook what seems like enormous quantities of food and it just disappears!

Oh, Costco bagels as well. They're much more substantial than the ones in the supermarkets, I find.

i have never batched cooked
when they were young there might have been left overs
and now we are 2 we just eat the same meal two days in a row, or versions of it.
lasagne,moussaka shepherds pie, fish pie, bit of an effort, eaten in one sitting when we were a family of 5

Oh no I hope this isn't the case in my house.... I'm always using it. Did you brown the stuff first?

but i guess if you wanted to batch cook, make two lasagnes at once, two saucepans, two dishes, one in the freezer - but if you dont have room in the freezer, portion up and freeze sounds like a good idea

Bigger batches is the only answer, buy that big pan I reckon.

When I used to make a bolognese it would last two meals for the four of us. Now it lasts us for one meal, with a single portion over for the freezer. But my DC used to be tiny, and now they both eat more than me (one is taller than me, and sporty, but even the less sporty one is growing like a weed)... So of course we need bigger portions.

my neighbour when i was a teenager, would always have a loaf of bread in the middle of the table, to eat with the food, with 3 teenage sons