I've never not provided a dinner to my kids, who are now college-aged. Doesn't mean I'm cooking every night (sometimes it's DH cooking, or we get pizza, or we're eating leftovers). But there's always a dinner available, and whoever is home is eating together.

Anonymous wrote:I only pay for takeout if the family is having takeout and/or I am not providing some other form of dinner, and leftovers count as dinner.

This. If I’m not cooking or ordering takeout for the family, ds might heat up a frozen pizza and dd might make a box of mac and cheese. No one is ordering DoorDash on their own or going out to buy a meal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only pay for takeout if the family is having takeout and/or I am not providing some other form of dinner, and leftovers count as dinner.

So technically, I do not provide food Thursday or Friday , and then Saturday I don’t provide any of the meals.

So what would you count that as 4?

I mean, I don’t count breakfast

Is there food provided by you available to them on Thursday, Friday and Saturday?

I'm not the PP you replied to, but in my mind if I have, for example the ingredients for an omelet, toast, and fruit in the fridge, and maybe another similar choice. I consider that "providing food".

If the fridge is empty, or there is nothing that adds up to a meal or that is within the kids' capablilities, I would consider that not providing a meal.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s odd that dinner is only provided three times a week. Leftovers 50% of each week and every man for himself once seems a bit much for a family.

I agree with this but I disagree that ordering expensive, mid take-out is the answer. Have stuff for sandwiches and other easy to make meals that your kids can fix themselves.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s odd that dinner is only provided three times a week. Leftovers 50% of each week and every man for himself once seems a bit much for a family.

Agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on the weekends if she hangs out with friends.
On Friday night, we order out-
but 1-2 a week. She babysits now, so if she wants to spend her money on door dash is okay with us, we just go to the supermarket and buy a door dash gift card with the money she has. The other day she got pupusas is her money.

So on the weekends? That’s two days so two times?

Yep don't fell like cooking on the weekends.

This is while school is in session? I'm all about expecting kids to have chores, but it's a lot to expect kids to cook dinner on 2 school nights. If you aren't going to cook, then I would say it's reasonable to pay for dinner...

But, yeesh, feed your family!

I think it’s odd that dinner is only provided three times a week. Leftovers 50% of each week and every man for himself once seems a bit much for a family.

Anonymous wrote:I only pay for takeout if the family is having takeout and/or I am not providing some other form of dinner, and leftovers count as dinner.

Same.

Thought I’d change the cooking schedule to Sunday, Tues, Thursday. Eat leftovers from those meals Monday, Weds, Fri.

I would not pay for takeout at all unless we are getting as a family. Even if they don’t have official leftovers, teens can make a sandwich, eggs, toast, quesadilla for dinner at home on days when I haven’t cooked or there isn’t leftovers they want.

Without the family (in which case of course parents would pay) for dinner? Almost never. Like maybe once or twice a year. Sometimes they eat dinner at a friend's house - maybe once a week. Boba after school is more likely - that's 1 or 2 times a week.

Anonymous wrote:on the weekends if she hangs out with friends.
On Friday night, we order out-
but 1-2 a week. She babysits now, so if she wants to spend her money on door dash is okay with us, we just go to the supermarket and buy a door dash gift card with the money she has. The other day she got pupusas is her money.

So on the weekends? That’s two days so two times?

Anonymous wrote:I only pay for takeout if the family is having takeout and/or I am not providing some other form of dinner, and leftovers count as dinner.

So technically, I do not provide food Thursday or Friday , and then Saturday I don’t provide any of the meals.

So what would you count that as 4?

I mean, I don’t count breakfast

on the weekends if she hangs out with friends.
On Friday night, we order out-
but 1-2 a week. She babysits now, so if she wants to spend her money on door dash is okay with us, we just go to the supermarket and buy a door dash gift card with the money she has. The other day she got pupusas is her money.

I only pay for takeout if the family is having takeout and/or I am not providing some other form of dinner, and leftovers count as dinner.

How often do you pay for your HS kids to eat out. I mean Chipotle or chick fila etc ~ 12 tops.

We cook dinner Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We expect our kids/us to eat leftovers Wednesday. Thursday, Friday, Saturday it’s every man for himself. So they could cook a frozen pizza or make soup or a sandwich.

My expectations is 2 times.

My H thinks 1 is enough.

My sister (not that she has a vote) thinks 3-4x.