What do you feed visiting teenagers?!?

[MsFogi]

I seem to have a steady steam of friends of the teenage dcs visiting on Fridays after school (and various times at weekends) which is great. But I am wondering what everyone feeds such visitors?! The dcs tell me that fishfingers and chips are a 'no no' , that frozen pizzas don't taste good, however it is getting too much to order Dominos pizzas in 2-3 times a week now. As a family we usually eat very late so it's not an option to have the usual family meal. Any ideas of simple stuff that I can have in the house for whenever it is needed?

We don't have kids round that often but if I'm feeding random kids I tend to offer pizza (frozen!) or pasta. But then I would literally never buy Domino's pizza so my teens wouldn't expect it. Frozen pizza is normal pizza to them except when we make our own which I wouldn't do for visitors.

Never had any complaints they always eat what they're given unless it includes vegetables!

My teens feed their own guests unless they're eating with the family, in which case they get whatever we're having, but that's usually only if its one long time friend over (most of whom we've known years).

If they're not eating with the family then teen usually makes pizza with friend/ s - I keep a stash of ready made XL pizza bases and ready grated cheese in the freezer, and plenty of tubes of tomato puree (long life) in the store cupboard - always buy more if there are only a couple left of any of those.

I ask the ten year old's friends what they fancy (pancakes, pizza or burgers usually - if pizza they help make, got to train the friends as well as the offspring) but the teens tend to fend for themselves with permission.

Toasties
Bacon / sausage / egg sandwiches
Pasta and a jar of tomato sauce
Swedish meatball subs
Frozen pizza
Breaded chicken and chips
Nachos

Tbh, they all order in to our house and pay for their own. This is generally just the pre or post snack

@ahoyshipmates

No wonder they all come round and congregate at yours if you're buying Domino's for them all several times a week. I bet their parents don't do the same. Tell them that they get what they're given or they are welcome to use their own money to buy as many Domino's pizzas as they like.

This!!

I only order take away for the kids for birthdays! Never, ever just for casually having teens' friends over! As a family we only have a take away once per month absolute maximum!

Oh actually yes toasted sandwiches also feature - ten year old makes these himself for his friends and himself too (has to ask permission obviously).

Fucking hell! Why on earth are you looking for ways to feed half the school dinner on a Friday?? if they want a snack at your house they can have toast or fruit. If they’re staying for dinner they can have what you as a family are having for dinner. If that’s at 9pm then so be it.

They’ve seen you coming a mile off

Pesto pasta is a popular choice amongst dd’s friends. Also nachos as mentioned many times already.

Spag bol with garlic bread, ice cream

Hot dogs with oven chips

Burgers

Tuna pasta bake

Roast a chicken

Icecream, lollies or cupcakes, donuts for dessert

They’re taking the mick! Frozen pizzas are fine, so is beans on toast, pasta pesto etc. That’s what mine had with friends at that age. Occasionally I’d treat them to a takeaway but certainly not 3 times a week!

Do you need to feed them? It's a bit much multiple times a week.

Wedges & chicken dippers, pasta& sauce (frozen garlic bread), cheese on toast!
Really easy things no need to go out of your way.

Forgot hot dogs, brioche rolls and ketchup/mustard

Aldi pizzas aren't bad! We have a drawer full of them for this very reason...!!

Otherwise we go down the BBQ route (DS1 is 17 so capable of dealing with it), alternatively we've done wraps with breaded chicken.

Honestly I wouldn't fret too much, they shouldn't be that fussy!

I don't mind having my ds friends round, Aldi pizzas ( 3 or 4 for £2.50) and family size box of ice lollies, can feed 10 for way less than £15.

Chicken fajitas seem to go down quite well with my teens - wraps, chicken, peppers, onions, avocado, sour cream, salsa, grated cheese. Or burgers/sausages in a bun with salad. Lasagne, garlic bread and salad would also be enjoyed by mine who are food dustbins. Followed by a plate of fruit and an ice cream or whatever.

either I cook a big pot of spag bol or offer frozen pizza.
One friend has lots of food issues so I keep potato waffles just for him in the freezer. it has his name on it 🤣

or they can bring their own foods & drinks or order takeaways plus we have a corner shop & a chippy nearby. they don't expect to be catered for all the time.

If it's planned ahead I buy crisps & popcorn for snacks and if they stay the night they can eat toast, cereal, eggs, bacon etc for breakfast.

Oddly the best supermarket pizza we've had is a cruddy looking deep pan cheese and tomato one in the frozen section at Tesco. My elder son adds ham or whatever. It's surprisingly delicious. The Asda freshly prepared ones are nice too.

My teenagers love chicken fahitas, very quick and easy to make. They also love chicken and rice, jacket potatoes, tuna, and sweetcorn pasta.

They can eat what you provide or they can go home! 🤨
Buy the frozen pizza and tell them if they want anything different they pay for it themselves!!

There's a lot of vegans amongst my dd's friends they seem to like a vegan curry.

Like most others here - I don't bend over backwards to impress the teens' friends. There's always something available that's easy and quick to prepare, but if they don't want it they can bugger off to the chip shop and buy their own.

I'm not splashing out on takeaways or making two dinners on Friday night to keep other people's kids coming to my house. I aim to create an ambience less appealing than that in their own home

They make themselves super noodles - DD's friend loves coming here as they don't buy stuff like that at home (actual quote) lol.

Mune have aldi pizzas, cheapest noodles and crisps

Definitely cheap noodles too.
One friend, or her BF got whatever I'd planned, unless I had advance warning in which case I was happy to plan a meal they'd like.
Randoms suddenly arriving, fine, but all you're getting is the cheap stuff as that's all I can afford, though I was happy with them hanging out here.
Oh, and if they are thirsty we have glasses and taps.