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[quote=Anonymous]I’ve always focused on teaching my kids over restricting them. As they get older, your ability to nitpick and control what they eat goes down. And by teaching, I don’t mean preach at them, I mean explain how eating a variety of food groups and assessing if they really need a snack or if they should just wait a bit for a meal.

I have two teen boys (17 and 13) and a 10 year old girl and it seems to work. I offer two hot meals a day (generally lunch and dinner) and offer options for breakfast (cereal, etc) if they want it. Especially for the older two they are expected to provide for themselves their snacks. While I don’t limit the portion sizes, they know that if they drink all the juice the first day it’s in the house, I’m not going to run out and buy more or buy more of it next time I’m at the store (2 gallons vs 1 gallon). I do try to keep a good amount of snacks that are varied available so they shouldn’t feel like they don’t have any options.

I also have some base rules:

1) Food/snacks are to be eaten outside of their rooms, preferably at the table or in the kitchen (occasionally I allow them to eat popcorn in front of a movie, etc): Not just for pest reasons, but it also encourages social interaction and stops them from holding up in their room with a bag of chips.

2) Snacks are their responsibility: if they want some pasta, or a frozen pizza, it is on them to make it, as well as clean up after themselves. For the younger two I may help here and there if they ask and I feel like it is appropriate. I try not to encourage larger snacks like this, but I know sometimes they do get pretty hungry and just want something hot. By having this rule it encourages them to think if it is worth it/appropriate to go with that, or if something smaller is acceptable.

3) If there is something I write down on our white board as being ‘necessary,’ always ask if it is available before taking it: I have a white board next to the fridge and have a list of items that I am saving for specific meals or other projects. Pretty self-explanatory, if whatever they want is up there they need to ask. Maybe I have plenty and it is no big deal if they want to take an apple. Maybe I’m making apple pie the next night and have just enough for the filling.

4) They can request I buy a specific snack or item, but I hold veto power: again pretty simple, I try to take their requests when possible, but occasionally I may have to veto it for one reason or another. Normally because I bought it last time and it sat there for over a month and it went bad, or it is something that just isn’t appropriate. My 13 year old a few months ago asked for beer as a joke for one example.[/quote]

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