How do I stop the younger kids eating ALL the snack?

[Maximum71]

Quick sketch of the situation:
DSS 21, DSD 20, DSSIL 21, DSS 13, DSS11.
The 3 older kids all take packed lunches- they pay extra house money to do this - So we get extra family packs of crisps, Mars bars, stuff like that to take one of each, together with their sandwiches, to work.
They come down the morning after the shop to find almost everything gone. The 2 younger boys deny eating it (as per usual).
It's so annoying- how do you explain to the younger 2 that of course they can have one or 2 items as a snack but eating the lot in one sitting is unacceptable?
We just can't get it though to them.
There is plenty of other food in the house. Always loads of fruit, nuts, cheese bread, meats, wraps, bagels etc to eat.
The younger one is quite fussy but always eats most of his tea.
I hate the idea of a lock box. But the big kids are super pissed off because they pay for extra snacks yet the boys eat all of it.
If I buy a couple of family pack for the boys to share over the course of a week - it's gone that same evening and they would then sneak to the shop with pocket money from their mum who they see once a week, to go and buy more crap.
My DD's who are older and don't live with us never used to do this. I just don't know how to deal with it.

Dh hides half of the Good Stuff for mid week!!
5 x dc here..

Get more than snack, get snacks

Give out a weeks worth of snacks to each person when you’ve done the shopping, and tell them once it’s gone there’s no more til next week!

I know you don't like it but a lock box would solve this problem.
Get one for each of the older kids and give them their share when you've shopped. The younger ones can eat their own share of they want but then they're the ones with a light lunch for the rest of the week.
When they're the ones affected maybe they will learn to be less selfish.

Everyone has a jar with the days snacks in !

Hide it.... or can the older ones keep their snacks in their rooms?
Tell the younger two that once all theirs are eaten no more will be bought till the following week

I think a lockbox in their rooms would be a good idea. I would also not buy the younger kids any treat food. I know people on MN like to boast about their ‘skinny, active, house and home eating pre-teens’ but eating several family size packs of junk isn’t good for their health. They clearly have no self control and as the parent I would manage that not buying them any.

If they then want to waste all the pocket money from their mum on snacks let them; but don’t replace the cash. They will stop eventually when they realise the value of their own money.

If it's stuff that doesn't need the fridge, can't the older kids just keep it in their rooms?

That said though it's pretty bad that an 11 and 13 year old are eating whole multipacks of crisps and Mars bars in one day! I don't think I was even allowed to take food without asking when I was 11...I'd definitely consider some kind of lock box if they're genuinely eating that much.

@LordOfTheOnionRings

Get more than snack, get snacks

Don't quite get what you mean ?

@Bibidy

If it's stuff that doesn't need the fridge, can't the older kids just keep it in their rooms?

That said though it's pretty bad that an 11 and 13 year old are eating whole multipacks of crisps and Mars bars in one day! I don't think I was even allowed to take food without asking when I was 11...I'd definitely consider some kind of lock box if they're genuinely eating that much.

Yeah- we've just agreed - they are going to have to start asking can they take food that isn't 'real' food. I'd even had a stash in my bedroom so I can distribute evenly throughout the week. But that doesn't work either.

@Soontobe60

Give out a weeks worth of snacks to each person when you’ve done the shopping, and tell them once it’s gone there’s no more til next week!

Tried that. The younger kids eat their stuff then sneak into the older kids room on a search and find mission which they they massively deny.. 🙈

I’d stop buying chocolate and crisps , if the older ones want it then they can buy it in their way to work / college or at lunchtime . If it’s not there the others can’t eat it . To me the issue is not them eating it all , it’s the lying about doing so .

What have you said to them about it all?

Why don't you just say you're not buying treats as part of the big shop and reduce your older kids contribution so that they can purchase their own?

Continue providing snacks such as fruit/cheese/crackers etc. Crisps and chocolate bars aren't really "snacks" they are treats and won't do anything to fill them up, which is the point of a snack.

@Floralnomad

I’d stop buying chocolate and crisps , if the older ones want it then they can buy it in their way to work / college or at lunchtime . If it’s not there the others can’t eat it . To me the issue is not them eating it all , it’s the lying about doing so .

Yes I agree, think there are underlying issues here. The kids live with us for reasons I don't want to discuss- the 2 oldest and 2 youngest have different mums btw- but all the kids treat each other as 'whole'. My partner has always insisted on this.

@lobsteroll

What have you said to them about it all?

Why don't you just say you're not buying treats as part of the big shop and reduce your older kids contribution so that they can purchase their own?

Continue providing snacks such as fruit/cheese/crackers etc. Crisps and chocolate bars aren't really "snacks" they are treats and won't do anything to fill them up, which is the point of a snack.

The younger kids think I'm unrealistic and a health freak. But I think this is quite a good suggestion to knock off some money. And It is a treat and not a snack- this is something I need to get them to understand. Thanks

They will thank you for being a "health freak" in 10 years time if you nip this in the bud now. Good luck! 😉

From the younger ones point of view the older ones get treats and they don't.

Can you get the younger ones to give money too, and buy them the crisps and chocolate bars of their choice?

Then everyone starts off the same. If anyone takes anything that isn't theirs, they have to replace it.

Can the older ones have a lock on their bedroom doors? I would hate someone searching my room for anything at all.

@RoseZinfandel

From the younger ones point of view the older ones get treats and they don't.

Can you get the younger ones to give money too, and buy them the crisps and chocolate bars of their choice?

Then everyone starts off the same. If anyone takes anything that isn't theirs, they have to replace it.

I think the younger ones do get treats as well but they are literally hoovering up ALL of the treats for everyone.

No lock box here
Nothing like that

One time. You ask before you take a snack. Period. End of.

It’s so disrespectful and I wouldn’t tolerate that. Consequences of taking the snacks without asking and lying about it after would be WiFi off and games consoles gone. You need to sit down as a family and discuss this and agree from this point forward what the rules are and what the consequences are for breaching. Make them part of the discussion and take on board their ideas etc too. But it needs sorted.

5 children here too. I hide stuff in random
Places. Some of my children also hide stuff in random
Places 😂. I suggest near the washing machine. No one other than me ever goes near it.

Also, I have a 12 year old. If anyone ate a whole multipack bo kne would be getting snacks in this house for another week.

@helpmemakeit

5 children here too. I hide stuff in random Places. Some of my children also hide stuff in random Places 😂. I suggest near the washing machine. No one other than me ever goes near it.

Tried it!! All throughout the house and I agree; the washing machine is the only place they didn't find them- But the older kids do their own washing so they had to take out the snacks every time they washed 😂

I keep snacks in the car boot