kids home from college - grocery lists and bills, oh my

[Anonymous]

My college kids added to the grocery list, then I asked them to just go do the shopping. They happily did so the other night around 10pm when I was going to bed. It was a sibling bonding experience I guess. They got everything on my list plus whatever food/snacks they want, and they bought me flowers.

All of it was put away. When I woke up, and I cash app'd them the reimbursement. If they are up for this all summer, than I am up for it as well. So damn nice to not have to go to the store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids are brats.

If they want to buy junk like Oreos, let them get a job and go to the store and buy themselves Oreos.

I keep the kitchen stocked with healthy foods. If they want junk, they can buy it themselves.

And your post in 5 months from now "my college aged kids don't want to come home for Thanksgiving! I can't believe it but they say campus is more fun".

Being accommodating to your grown kids is not the same thing as them being brats. Sheesh. I thought it seemed like OP was excited, but also a little overwhelmed. Not annoyed about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are all home but we don't buy or consume things that you all do, so there hasn't been a truly noticeable increase in food bills. No choc milk, microwave single serving foods (wasteful and unhealthy), or oreos/junk foods. We don't snack.

The only increase I've noticed is an increase in orders of fresh organic fruit and veg, making 2 quarts of yoghurt weekly, and my oldest is having fun trying recipes from NYT/GBBO once a week, so there are the additional ingredients he needs.

Lunches are prepped every few days and put into bento style boxes in the fridge, and the children can take them to the pool/beach or eat them at home. Mostly things like pasta salads, quiche, cheese/bread/fruit, tea sandwiches, etc.

+1 Love this

[Anonymous]

Tons of yogurt
Bananas (she is a runner)

[Anonymous]

Costco rotisserie chickens, these can be made into chicken salad, tacos and enchiladas too. Costco veggie trays, croissants, salads, homemade desserts, avocados, salsa, guacamole and chips. Fruits and berries. Dave's Bread for toasting and crunchy peanut butter. Popcorn kernels for popping. Ingredients to make quick ice cream in the Vitamix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are all home but we don't buy or consume things that you all do, so there hasn't been a truly noticeable increase in food bills. No choc milk, microwave single serving foods (wasteful and unhealthy), or oreos/junk foods. We don't snack.

The only increase I've noticed is an increase in orders of fresh organic fruit and veg, making 2 quarts of yoghurt weekly, and my oldest is having fun trying recipes from NYT/GBBO once a week, so there are the additional ingredients he needs.

Lunches are prepped every few days and put into bento style boxes in the fridge, and the children can take them to the pool/beach or eat them at home. Mostly things like pasta salads, quiche, cheese/bread/fruit, tea sandwiches, etc.

+1 Love this

My children like to come home during holidays for the company AND meals. They always say our meals are far better than anything on campus. And with our personal chef, I am inclined to agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are all home but we don't buy or consume things that you all do, so there hasn't been a truly noticeable increase in food bills. No choc milk, microwave single serving foods (wasteful and unhealthy), or oreos/junk foods. We don't snack.

The only increase I've noticed is an increase in orders of fresh organic fruit and veg, making 2 quarts of yoghurt weekly, and my oldest is having fun trying recipes from NYT/GBBO once a week, so there are the additional ingredients he needs.

Lunches are prepped every few days and put into bento style boxes in the fridge, and the children can take them to the pool/beach or eat them at home. Mostly things like pasta salads, quiche, cheese/bread/fruit, tea sandwiches, etc.

+1 Love this

My children like to come home during holidays for the company AND meals. They always say our meals are far better than anything on campus. And with our personal chef, I am inclined to agree.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Op, here is what happens at our house. I give them a shelf in the fridge. It's their shelf for whatever they want to buy. I tell them I'll reimburse them for groceries - just give me the receipt. I don't worry one bit about what they are going to eat. I don't worry one bit if I have x or y in the house. If I'm fixing a sandwich I'll say, "hey do you want one?" Otherwise I'm not fixing their meals.

[Anonymous]

I’m not where you are yet, OP, as my son is a high school senior, and I am looking forward to the day my grocery bags aren’t stuffed with 4 gallons of milk every week, 5 pounds of grapes, quarts of yogurt, and bag upon bag of tortilla chips. I was just thinking about how much room I will have in my fridge! And now you’ve reminded me it will all disappear again next summer! Made me smile.
Enjoy having your crew close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids added to the kitchen chaos by both bringing home all the shelf-stable food they had in their dorm rooms, so now on top of the extra dishes and the endless shopping I'm also tripping over a bunch of egg crates filled with ramen cups and easy mac. I suggested the other day they eat those things but they told me the whole point of being home is NOT eating stuff like that. I have unapologetically taken a few of them to work for lunch and relived my own college days. It doesn't taste as good as I remember.

lol same here! My kid brought home enough to open her own 7-11. I just donated a bunch of it to a food pantry. Next year, she’s coming home on a plane with two suitcases no more massive SUV trips.

[Anonymous]

Hi from OP. I enjoy reading these, thanks for the smiles 😄. Wishing you all enjoyable eating with your full houses.

[Anonymous]

My culinary student is home for the summer and all she wants to do is cook. She is working in a restaurant this summer but on her days off she is constantly trying new recipes. My grocery bill is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children are all home but we don't buy or consume things that you all do, so there hasn't been a truly noticeable increase in food bills. No choc milk, microwave single serving foods (wasteful and unhealthy), or oreos/junk foods. We don't snack.

The only increase I've noticed is an increase in orders of fresh organic fruit and veg, making 2 quarts of yoghurt weekly, and my oldest is having fun trying recipes from NYT/GBBO once a week, so there are the additional ingredients he needs.

Lunches are prepped every few days and put into bento style boxes in the fridge, and the children can take them to the pool/beach or eat them at home. Mostly things like pasta salads, quiche, cheese/bread/fruit, tea sandwiches, etc.

+1 Love this

My children like to come home during holidays for the company AND meals. They always say our meals are far better than anything on campus. And with our personal chef, I am inclined to agree.

hm. You're not sending them a personal chef to campus? Do you even love your kids?

[Anonymous]

Why would you feed your kids that kind of horrible diet.

They're already setup for a life of being overweight and obese. The college metabolism wears off, but addiction to bad food doesn't. Terrible food like that is more addictive than crack cocaine, quite literally.

Almost every single item on that list is a super processed food.

[Anonymous]

You know you live in the DC metro area when you read the responses and can't be sure the obnoxious all-organic and personal chef ones are serious or satire.