Feeding a group of teens

[Anonymous]

Happy back to school! My kid just arrived home with 4 friends. I just ordered pizza, but I'm wondering what else I might do for random group dinner. Do you all do anything other than order out? There's always a vegetarian in the group too, I imagine. I'd love any ideas for simple teen-approved group dinners!

[Anonymous]

I keep frozen meatballs in the freezer, and pasta and jarred sauce in the pantry. It's easy to throw them together for a quick meal. You can keep frozen vegetarian meatballs in the freezer, or just offer them pasta and sauce maybe with some kind of cheese. My kids like pasta with red sauce and a generous dollop of ricotta. I also usually have edamame in the freezer, which you can serve on the side to add protein that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep frozen meatballs in the freezer, and pasta and jarred sauce in the pantry. It's easy to throw them together for a quick meal. You can keep frozen vegetarian meatballs in the freezer, or just offer them pasta and sauce maybe with some kind of cheese. My kids like pasta with red sauce and a generous dollop of ricotta. I also usually have edamame in the freezer, which you can serve on the side to add protein that way.

Oh, great idea! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You should look in the teen forum - there was a long thread about this exact issue just last week with a ton of different ideas.

[Anonymous]

Grill

[Anonymous]

Taquitos…and get an air fryer.

[Anonymous]

If this wasn’t planned I wouldn’t be making group dinner. I’d provide snacks yes, but dinner no.

[Anonymous]

Go clean - carrot sticks, celery sticks, unsalted almonds. They'll thank you later.

[Anonymous]

DIY Hummus wrap/sandwich with onions tomatoes peppers etc
DIY Sushi! Cucumber avocado mango air-fried tofu
DIY spring rolls -cucumber lettuce shred carrot air fried tofu etc

[Anonymous]

Ramen and packs of frozen veggies to add in
Crackers, cheese
A big bowl of apples on the counter
Out of all the things I've had at home, those are the items teens have grabbed when I failed to prepare for their appetites of meals between meals. They acted like that would have been their first preference anyway so I keep those around.

[Anonymous]

And I finally understand why adults used to criticize me for eating second dinner later at night, it's weird! But I also remember being a teen and eating at all hours and that isn't going to become a habit anyway so no need to nag.

[Anonymous]

No one wants a big old bag of edamame

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one wants a big old bag of edamame

I do!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should look in the teen forum - there was a long thread about this exact issue just last week with a ton of different ideas.

Oh, thanks! I'll look there too! I missed it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go clean - carrot sticks, celery sticks, unsalted almonds. They'll thank you later.

OP, do you want the kids to return to your house? If so, don't feed them a 40 yr. old woman's snack.

--middle age woman