DSD eating all my kids pack up food

[ChocolateFlamingo]

I'm getting really annoyed now. DSD is 16 and she keeps helping herself to the food I buy for my kids packed lunches for school!!
Now they don't have enough for tomorrow or Friday!!
I can't afford to keep forking out, she gets bought her own food but she stuffs it all at once and then moans that there's nothing for her to eat!!
Am I right to feel frustrated here?

Have you told her to stop doing it? Of course it isn't unreasonable to be frustrated by this.

Yes I've told her but she keeps doing it anyway!

Yeah then definitely not unreasonable! Have you implemented any consequences?

Where’s your oh in all this? Does she get pocket money? I’d be getting her to replace what she’s taken

You need to put the pack up stuff into a separate box in the fridge that she is never allowed to open.

You need to let her know that that food is saved for lunches and not for snacking.

If she is hungry you can give her snacking options. Maybe toast with jam and peanut butter? Or cheese sticks? Or yogurt? Something simple?

Is she just hungry? Teenagers are bottomless pits and she might just be scoffing all 'her' bits and is still genuinely hungry for more. Is she getting the same snacks as them or are theirs more appealing?

I think you need to clearly separate off the bits for your children's lunch boxes and make this clear to her but talk with her about what snacks she would like providing. You could make batches of pasta or have jacket potatoes and toppings ready to go if she needs something more substantial.

What is it that she’s eating? Can you buy enough for all the kids but split it evenly and put it in labelled bags/boxes? Then when she has had her share she’s had it!
Is she with you now? Can you send her out for replacements? Inconveniencing her may make her realise what her actions are putting you through.

In my experience teens will eat anything that's not nailed down!

If there's stuff you don't want her to eat because it's for packed lunches, make it clear. Top shelf of cupboard = not to be touched without permission.

You really do need to have enough snacks in the house for teens. DS2 was incredibly sporty, would get home from school and eat his way through the cupboard and fridge and then want to know what was for dinner. He burned it all off but our food bill went up by about 30% when he was in his teens.

Sounds like her parents aren't giving her enough food? You could clearly label the food you need for your children and if she eats it then she has to give you the money or a replacement? And tell her how selfish she is.

Agree with everyone else - it's fair enough that you feel frustrated, but teens do eat a lot - does she have some other food to snack on?

Can you send her off to the shops to replace what she’s taken? The inconvenience of doing that may make her think twice in future.

Also make sure the food she has is the same as what your kids have so say they have wagon wheels she has some too. That way she has less reason to covet it

Are you sure there's enough in the house for her? Its unbelievable until you have one but teens seem to be bottomless pits and some can just eat and eat.

16? Send her to the shop to replace it

Teens are definitely bottomless pits where food is concerned. How old are the other DC?

She chooses what she wants from the shop and she get it bought for her. She won't go and replace them, she'll just point blank refuse and there's no way for me to make her.
She has a part time job but she's wasted all her money on McDonald's, same reason, she's eaten all her own food.
I have bought her the same a lot of times before, for example, I buy little cartons of apple juice for the kids lunches. And I'll buy her a big carton just for herself and no one else to touch.
Her dad doesn't do much about it, she's never been disciplined so she pretty much gets away with anything.
I've asked him if he can transfer money to replace what DSD has eaten so I can go and buy what they need for tomorrow and Friday. He's not replied yet, I'm hoping he can have a word with her about it though because she obviously doesn't listen to me!
Separate snack baskets do sound like a good idea so thank you for the suggestion

I bet she's just hungry and can't resist . I remember always being hungry at that age. The food was a bit grim and there was simply nothing like snacks in the house , we weren't allowed to help ourselves anyway . It was bloody miserable.

@ineedaholidaynow

Teens are definitely bottomless pits where food is concerned. How old are the other DC?

Other DC are 9, 7 and 3. I work so 3 year old goes to nursery and has pack up there

@FilledSoda

I bet she's just hungry and can't resist . I remember always being hungry at that age. The food was a bit grim and there was simply nothing like snacks in the house , we weren't allowed to help ourselves anyway . It was bloody miserable.

Boredom eating! I get it, I myself was the same. But my parents had boundaries and we had to ask if we wanted something. We'd never just help ourselves

My teenage DD also eats the food earmarked for her sisters packed lunch, it was so frustrating, and unfair to her sister, so we now just hide any food we want to 'ration'.

Can you put the food set aside for the other DC in a lockable container. Slightly drastic but if you are not getting support from DH then drastic measures maybe needed

She sounds like a selfish madam. Next food shop tell her you aren’t buying her any snacks as she ate them last week.

If the other children are primary age, are you sure you're giving her enough? A teen eats a LOT more than a 9 year old. It's not good enough to say "you all get a yogurt and a penguin bar" when she will probabky need double that to keep her going.

Its horrible to have to do it but can you hide it in your wardrobe or something like that.