Do you hide food?

[Anonymous]

I'm not a huge snack/junk food eater, but like to have some cookies/chips/ice cream in the house for the times I do want something.

Unless I hide it (or buy a flavor no one else likes) the rest of the family will scarf it daily until it's gone... so there's nothing left when I go looking for a treat.

I feel like a crazy person for hiding food. Am I the only person who does this?

[Anonymous]

Why dont you just ask them not to eat it? How old are your kids?

[Anonymous]

You're not the only one. I used to hide food from my stepsons, not so that I could eat it later but so that they could. Otherwise they'd eat everything in sight the day it came from the grocery store. I had to ration bags of chips, cookies, etc out bit by bit!

[Anonymous]

My mom did it when I was growing up because I was a chocoholic and would hog the Little Debbies.

I wouldn't personally do it with my own family. I am wary of anything that could give my kid food issues or cause bingeing behavior. I would just have a very frank talk in that situation (or buy more than one of whatever) -- "hey, please stop eating all of the ice cream whenever I buy it; that's for everyone to share."

[Anonymous]

Yep. I rebox it into things they dislike. Mostly snacks for them that need pacing. I occasionally hide treats for myself but usually eventually share. I have dietary restrictions (allergies) so mine are $$$ which annoys me to dole out when they can eat everything else. I tend to by comparable items to avoid the issue.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I hide food from the kids. Asking them does not work. It just leads to long, angry talks. What actually works best I have found is not eating the item in question myself. I just told DDs that the end of summer means no more ice cream or cookies or candy in the house. I will not buy it for them or myself, there will be no need for the discussions or rationing. They are unhappy but we are all healthier.

[Anonymous]

I don't have to hide it anymore. I have a "food locker" with a combination lock. My now 18 yo DS would eat all the highly desirable items without regard to anyone else. Stuff that was meant for school lunches would be gobbled down and nothing left for anyone else. For example, he'd drink 4 chocolate milk boxes a day (and leave the boxes all over the house) rather than make himself a chocolate milk using powder that I bought in bulk. I wasn't restricting the amount of chocolate milk he could drink, just the boxed ones that were meant for lunch boxes. Same thing would happen with things like Capri Sun, cookies, protein drinks, etc.

His refusal to regulate and make good choices was unfair to all of us and while there were consequences to his actions, that still left my other kids (and me) without the stuff we had a reasonable expectation of having. So, I got a food locker and it's been fabulous! I keep alcohol in there now as well, just in case. Best think ever!

[Anonymous]

I used to hate the concept of hiding food (my stepmom who had major issues with food kept treats in a locked box in her closet).

But now I do because of exactly what you say. The kids don't know about it any particular food I have on hand and I don't have it regularly. Sometimes I just whip it out and say "treats, kids!"

I do always have fun food for them to eat, like dark chocolate or fruit snacks. So they don't feel deprived. We bake too.

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

We are doing really well on having cookies or chocolate and kids and husband waiting for dessert and getting a reasonable portion. I want them to learn to self moderate before college so I tell them to take the amount of cookies that is good for a dessert and then I praise them!

That said, I do hide my dried blueberries because those suckers are expensive and I like them specifically for my oatmeal, which nobody else eats!

[Anonymous]

Same. DH is like a garbage disposal (and he never, ever gains a pound! wtf). I hide my favorites. I have no trouble eating 1-2 cookies a day, whereas he'd eat 40 and they'd be gone. The kids don't get out food unless they ask permission, which strangely enough works?

My pregnancy craving is soda and I limit myself to a few a week. NOPE- dh will drink the whole 12 pack and I won't have any left when I want one. I asked him why he drinks all my soda, but doesn't buy me more and he said he didn't want it in the house because he'd just drink it. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

No. The sweets I like my kids don’t (super dark pure chocolate). And their treats, they are pretty good about having one serving and being done. No scarfing.

[Anonymous]

Yes because my husband and son won’t rest until it’s all gone. I like to enjoy a small amount of treats at a time. They shovel it down in one serving until it’s all gone so I hide my snacks and enjoy them at a leisurely pace.

[Anonymous]

We mark food we want for ourselves, Especially leftover takeout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to hate the concept of hiding food (my stepmom who had major issues with food kept treats in a locked box in her closet).

But now I do because of exactly what you say. The kids don't know about it any particular food I have on hand and I don't have it regularly. Sometimes I just whip it out and say "treats, kids!"

I do always have fun food for them to eat, like dark chocolate or fruit snacks. So they don't feel deprived. We bake too.

I think your stepmom (or her twin) is one dcum. We have one such nutso.