I have three teenagers with lots of teenage friends, who we love to host anytime. We have an open door policy and I wouldn’t change that for the world – it’s a great way to get to know the kids my kids are hanging out!
My concern is my grocery budget. It seems these hungry, growing kids can clean out my refrigerator and a week’s worth of snacks in an hour! Any ideas for some low cost, healthy, teen friendly snacks? How do you feed teenagers without breaking your budget? -Denise
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Tina says
I don’t normally do snacks. for my family of 6, I buy a box of Cheeze It crackers every two weeks, and a bag of store brand pretzels. I bring them home and portion them into small bags. I do, however, often find myself feeding 7 or 8 kids dinner! I dont mind, because we all sit around the table and many kids dont get that at home. With 4 kids who can easiy out eat me, we go through plenty of food! I do watch what they eat, it is now or never to instill healthy eating habits! Dinner is usually centered around veggies, at least two kinds, a starch and meat. Watch portion sizes! Growing kids are often hungry, but I serve them a healthy portion size and make them wait a bit to settle in their tummy, then we negotiate seconds. Often they get bored waiting for me to finish and fix them more food and go play!
I am not against snacks, and have been known to make just snacky foods for a meal. Lots of kids come through and are very happy with a homemade quesidillas, homemade pizza pockets and the like. Portion control is the key to saving money and teaching healthy habits! I can’t remember the last time I bought pop tarts, pizza rolls or anything like it!
the othe leslie says
I don’t have the book I’m thinking of handy, but I read in one of Amy Dascyzyn’s books a tip about stocking the freezer with the components of homemade pizza and letting the kids cook it. The suggestion was to parbake homemade pizza crust, freeze portions of inexpensive pasta sauce, and freeze shredded cheese on cookie sheets and then, when the cheese is frozen, storing it in ziplocs. The only thing that needs to be microwaved before baking is the sauce to spreading consistency.
owlhaven says
Popcorn, cookies, carrot sticks, leftover breakfast pancakes spread with peanut butter…
Mary, mom to 10
Lisa says
As for baked goods (which are always cheap and a crowd pleaser), I try recipes that are a little “healthier”, such as substituting all the sugar, eggs, butter, etc. with canola oil, egg whites, and better butter spreads such as I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. It is a little healthier, but still tastes good! 🙂 A bunch can be made up ahead of time and froze in little baggies. I specify that each person can have one baggie per day/week, etc. I put a couple of cookies in each baggie. I make small (1/2 tsp) cookies for me and put them in seperate baggies, so when others are snacking I can grab something too that isn’t too bad and satisfies by sweet tooth! 🙂 (Baggies are great so kids aren’t grabbing handfuls of cookies out of a big container.)
CAP says
We bought my son a rice cooker and taught him to use it. He has gotten creative with whatever is available to add to it.
We also have a stash of peanut butter and graham crackers. Yes they still eat those as teenagers.
We find that if we keep the variety down, we keep the waste down.
Amy says
I have 6 children and 3 are on the Autism spectrum. We keep a certain set snack time each day and I leave out what they can choose from. The rest of the food, I keep in a LOCKED pantry. If they want more than I provide, I tell them then they need to provide it, via a job, etc..! When they have friends over, we decide beforehand what special treats and snacks we might get from the store. Having a friend over is a huge reward so I am a little more lenient then..
jan says
As the mom of one 17 year old rock star status boy (and his 4 band members) and 19 year old Princess, both of whom have hungry friends (whom I swear must never eat at home) I’ve started to pick up on the easiest and cheapest ways to feed the masses:
Dinners are usually pasta. With garlic bread or whack a can biscuits. And jarred sauce bought CHEAP because they do NOT have the gourmet taste for my homemade sauce yet :). Hotdogs. Hamburgers. Tacos. Homemade pizzas (amazing how fast they come running). Salads topped with chicken.
Snacks are generally fruit (blueberries, watermelon, grapes, all tossed in a large bowl/platter), peanuts (from Costco – no food allergies), M & Ms. They know if they see M&M’s they had better not eat every last one of them.
Grilled cheese sandwiches which one can make for the whole group.
Cheese & crackers (cheese slices from either a large block of cheddar or precut slices), carrots, celery and mini sweet peppers sliced and served with ranch (if desired)
When we have them, energy and protein bars, granola bars (the Nature Valley Nut & Honey seems to be the all time favorite)
Rice made in the rice cooker. Princess has become an expert at this. I have this great japanese sauce from Costco that they LOVE (and being costco sized, it has lasted)
Sandwiches with lunchmeat.
Omlets. One of the band members is quite good at making these and he gets nominated to make them at least once a week for the group. (Yes, there is an egg recall, I’ve checked and my supply is good :))
I stopped buying chips and microwave popcorn every week. The group we have is amazingly healthy at eating and make fairly smart choices. But let me tell you, they know if they see leftovers in the fridge they are allowed to eat them BUT hubby just about had a heart attack when he watched the last 2 baby back ribs walk right by him 🙂
It should be noted that I am a huge stockpiler of all things food related and generally have a TON of food in the pantry, freezers and refrigerators. If I didn’t shop the great deals that I do, I think I would probably feed them different on a bunch of things. I have gone back to shopping at Costco every two weeks for basics such as milk ($1 less a gallon), eggs (over half off), cheeses (hit and miss on sales) and fruits and veggies. I still hit the produce stands when stuff looks decent, but not often anymore.
I now need to go read all the comments to see if there is anything I’m missing!
Lisa says
I checked out this recipe at the library last year and it has recipes and reasons behind the constant eating. It was an excellent book. I learned a lot, and there were some great recipes.
“How to feed a teenage boy : recipes and strategies” by
Orcutt, Georgia.
Karla says
My teenage daughter and friends love that I make freezer cookies. I spend a morning and make usually three kinds (doubling the batches). I then roll in balls and flash freeze. To flash freeze, put dough on wax paper on cookie sheet for 15 minutes in freezer. You can put lots on the sheet as long as they don’t touch. This keeps the cookies from sticking together. Then mark the bags with name and cooking directions, push the extra air out of the bag, and freeze. I find it usually takes 1 more minute of baking time for a cookie frozen then the original recipe calls for. You can add cereal you need to get rid of into your cookies, so this helps economically. I only use whole wheat flour, and if I am using something like fiber one cereal, I crush it with a rolling pin and replace one cup of the flour with one cup of very finely crushed cereal. If it’s rice krispies, or corn flakes, etc. I just add an extra cup to the recipe, as is. More healthy ideas to add: raisins or dried fruit, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, etc., they seem to love it all thrown into a hearty cookie. **The cool part–you have ready-to-go cookies for last minute functions, or if you just want to make a few, you can do that too!**
Melissa R says
I make homemade Jalapeno Poppers. At $1 a lb for Jalapenos you can feed a small army! I use cream cheese, sour cream & chedder cheese stuffing and bake at 425 until the pepper is cooked throughly. So delish! Also great to add to burgers!
Shawnie says
I appreciate this post! I have 3 kids under the age of 11 and they eat me out of house and home! I can’t imagine what my grocery bill will look like when they’re teenagers!!
Something I like to keep on hand is english muffins, pizza sauce (or Ragu), and shredded cheese. These make easy, do-it-yourself pizzas. Just toast the bread, then add sauce & cheese & microwave for about 30 sec. to melt the cheese. It’s healthy and satisfying and relatively cheap. ^_^
Love Love Love all of these ideas!!!!!!
Bonita says
This is what we’ve done:
For snacks at home: popcorn, frozen pizzas which I buy when they are on sale. I also stock up on snack foods like Chex Mix when they go on sale. My parents have been good about giving us food from Sam’s and Costco as a present so we make sure to include snacks in that mix.
It doesn’t hurt to ask the visiting teens to bring a snack with them to share. That way the burden isn’t solely on your grocery budget.
In addition, I like to give my kids gift cards for food places and movie theatres as presents and request that of the relatives too. This works well when they are out with friends and want to catch a bite.
Admittedly, my grocery budget went up when the kids reached the teen years, but I think the trade off is worth it. I love for their friends to come over.
Mary says
My growing teenage boys will eat ANYTHING that is quick to grab-they cannot be bothered with prep work. This time of year I make sure to have a lot of fresh fruit and veges cleaned and cut if needed and place it in easy to reach spots in the fridge…they take it by the handfuls! Thank goodness for farmers markets lately so I am not paying huge prices for veges lately.
When fresh produce is not available I try to make larger dinners and keep extras on hand for a snack-how they can eat 2-3 dinners a night is beyond me but they do when playing sports! I also make from scratch large batches of snacks to save $$. Last year I made homemade granola bars which were a hit and frequently requested. They never know the healthy ingredients I add to granola. Smoothies are another favorite. Just add frozen fruit to yogurt and maybe some flax seeds, little honey and they will drink it all up!
Sara @ ThrivingMama says
I have a couple different granola type bars linked here that are super dense and relatively cheap to make. The Apple Cinnamon Granola Bars and the Grown Up Granola Bars will make an 11×15 Jelly Roll type pan worth of hearty snacks for the price of a couple boxes of the commercial snacks. Good luck!
Nicole says
I try not to stock a lot of snack foods for my teenage boy . . . he (with or without friends) can hoover through bags and bags of snacks in an afternoon. I try and stock up on freezer mini-meals … freezer burritos, breakfast items (sandwiches, muffins), homemade pigs in a blanket in the freezer. Things that can go for a quick zap in the microwave and it fills them up. I am also a fan of a bar type “cookie” usually with oats and peanut butter or fruit. They are a treat but also filling.
Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers says
Here’s a great treat for summer time. Everyone loves ice cream sandwiches, right? But these are healthier than store bought (although just a little bit) and will actually FILL their bellies!!! http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-ice-cream-sandwiches
Kelly says
My mom always had my brother and my friends at home and we always had friends over. My suggestion is home made soup.. chili lots of beans and little meat. add lots of tomato and spice kids like it hot today. bring in some mac noodles to go with it or some fritos. or buy a cheap pork loin and crock pot it shred it and throw bbq sauce on it and make bbqs. same with a cheap cut of beef. it will go a long way that way and cut up fresh veges to go with it. and buy dry ranch dsg mix and mix with fat free sour cream for dip. yum everyone loves that. hope it helps.
Lori says
I don’t know about other teenagers but mine eat all day long and they don’t eat stuff like hummus and chickpeas they eat pizza rolls and poptarts! I have 3 teenage boys by the way
Dee says
My breadmaker used to really be a money saver when my daughter was a teen. She and her friends loved “cheesy breadsticks.” I would make batches of pizza dough and keep them in the freezer to have on hand. I’d add some block Mozzarella (cut in slices) and parmesan cheese (always bought on sale) with garlic powder/salt and occasionally with Italian seasoning to make a batch of two. Heat up some homemade or bottled marinara sauce to dip them in. To make them healthier, could use whole wheat flour or add flax seeds instead of plain white flour. Organic ingredients (on sale) would really up the nutrition.
With the same breadmaker, always had banana or pumpkin bread on hand as well (add some chocolate chips).
Love this post — such great ideas — thanks!
Tia says
I make a lot of no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies and they are great to fill the teenagers up!
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Microwave butter, sugar and milk for 2 minutes or until melted completely.
2.Add cocoa, oats, vanilla and peanut butter.
3. Stir until oats evenly distributed.
5. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper. Cool. Makes 4 to 5 dozen.
I also make homemade frozen burritos and those are a favorite too!
Elizabeth says
From an old grandma here with no more teens at home…my son and his best friend ate tons of food but they were always welcome to whatever was there…and both his mom and I encouraged the boys to experiment with cooking whatever it was they wanted to try…and they grew to love experimenting…my son claims once in awhile it went in the trash (though at my house I do not think anything flopped)…but they learned. Both guys are now in their mid-30’s and they are the main cooks at their house. My 10 yr old grandson informed me that HIS DAD is the best cook around…and I am after him. Hump, imagine that.
I would not worry a whole lot however as to how healthy the snacks were WHEN COMPANY COMES…what I have learned even as an older adult…our older adult friends are HAPPIER with more what I consider junky food…high sugar etc….I call them sugar hounds, so I save my more expensive food for our own family…and feed them what makes them happy!!
Anna says
The same way I feed all of us without breaking the budget — SavingsAngel.com!!! It’s a website that matches sales and coupons (inserts and internet) and organizes them all according to store. Makes shopping a breeze and I am able to buy snacky type foods that didn’t fit in the budget before. I routinely get items like goldfish crackers for pennies (in addition to regular groceries, health and beauty items, etc…) Love it.
(psst… if you use referral code 30082 you can get one month free when you purchase a one month membership. And it gives me a break on my membership!)
Courtney Wagner says
We have four kids – two of which are teenagers – and it is HARD keeping enough food in the house! My solution has been to get the huge bag of tortilla chips from Costco (about $4) and Costco’s large bottle of Kirkland Salsa (about $6). This keeps the kids in snacks for quite a few days and it’s pretty healthy. We also get the large jars of pretzles from Tractor Supply. Also healthy and fairly frugal.
Blessings,
Courtney
sandy says
My kids are grown and gone now but i remember those days and they make me smile. I was like you, I liked having all the kids at our house so I know what was going on (plus ours was the closest house to the school). It was not unusual for me to be feeding ten or so extras 5 days a week. I did it without going broke by first setting some ground rules: no going through the cupboards or fridge without asking first. I always made sure I had things out on the counter waiting for them when they hit. Maybe it was a pot of hot soup and some homemade bread. Maybe it was a stack of pancakes or waffles with syrup and the toaster to warm them up. Maybe it was homemade banana bread or homemade muffins. Maybe it was a casserole that was long on pasta and potatoes and shorter on meat but still tasty and healthy. Maybe it was completely from scratch pizza or calzones. Macaroni and cheese, spaghetti casserole and such were also popular. Huge bowls of popcorn were aslo big hits. These kids were HUNGRY and if you set out meal type things and not just snack type things they gobbled it up. My oldest is now 33 and my youngest is 31 and when I see certain friends of theirs they still talk about how they could come to our house for good food. Since most went home to an empty house I think just having someone there meant as much to them.
Denise says
WOW – you guys rock! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas! And thank you also for reminding me how blessed we are to have all these great kids in our house – they will be heading off to college in a few short years and I want to enjoy this time with them…..now I’m heading to the kitchen to start getting organized with my teen snacks:)
Anne says
Some of these will be repetitive but think popcorn, pretzels and graham crackers for prepackaged items easily purchased for a dollar or free with coupons.
I work at a library and often have to come up with inexpensive snacks for large groups of all ages on limited funds. Fortunately I can usually stop by Family Dollar or Big Lots, heading directly to their clearance area and pick up snacks that are going out of date in a few days for as low as 25 to 50 cents a bag. I have been lucky enough to get chips, cookies, pretzels, and granola bars to feed 30/40 people. We serve them up with pitchers of lemonade and ice water.
When my kids are working on projects or commitees with their friends I whip up oatmeal cookies, brownies, homemade chex mix, etc. If you purchase your cereal with coupons like I do for go directly to the website for recipe ideas. When I had an abundance of Cheerios I just pulled up some of their recipes and took a big batch of bars to the float commitee, they loved me 🙂
Good luck and just so you know girls can put away alot of food too!
Deb says
My son got a job at Chick Fil A and worked 57 hours last week, he gets a free meal ($4) every 4 hours.
He is starting college next week so he won’t be able to work as much though, then I will have to start cooking for him again………=)
Sherri says
We have a rule in our house. If they want a specific snack they have to find either a sale on them, and or a coupon on them. I only buy snacks if I have both. I do purchase lots of coupons so that I have a ton of snacks on hand.
I also purchase tons of fruit and keep a huge fruit basket filled on the kitchen counter that my kids can get at anytime. They have had this option since they were in preschool.
If you have it in your area and are looking for free fruit, there is an organization called fallingfruit.org that gives away free excess fruit to whomever wants it. There is also one for vegetables too, but I can not remember the websight. Unfortunately, we do not have any farmers that do this in my area.
YOu can also go at the last hour of the farmers market to get a great deal on produce since most of the farmers do not want to pack the produce back to their farms. Also grocery stores have discounted produce, especially banannas. I end up freezing my banannas, so brown spots are no problem, especially if you are baking with it (such as bananna bread, pancakes, etc.)
Good luck!!!
Sherri
Kim says
Make snacks from scratch. Cookies, muffins, brownies etc…You should be able to load up on betty crocker things a few times a year for dirt cheap….but you can also make home made items totally from scratch. Microwave popcorn, jello and peanut butter & jelly are inexpensive.
Misty Butler says
I am with ya! Our desire is to be the “Hub” for our kid’s friends and our whole youth group… a lot of food! I stock up like crazy on sale/coupon items, this is my saving grace! I recently threw a party for the Youth Group (60 kids came), the only out of pocket expense to me was fresh hot dog buns, I had the rest or baked it. Homemade salsa & homemade chips are great, sweet potato fries, homemade popcorn, Homemade Chex Mix, fresh fruit slices and homemade whip cream, apple slices & Nutella, Peanut Butter or Homemade Chocolate dip, Quessadillas, are a few ideas. I have a “Store” in the garage that I am only allowed into. This helps me keep a collection of snacks going and not see it disappear. I have what I call the “trash bin” in the pantry for snacks that they can have at will and I also spend every Tuesday baking/cooking lot’s of treats, freezing usually half to ration. The only thing that is free game here is fruit… eat all you want, it’s going to go bad anyway if they don’t. My kids know my shopping days and how long they need to make it last, which helps. We are a family of four but I cook for 6-8 because I can freeze the leftovers in single portions for the kids (footballer’s love lasagna before practice)… and you never know who is going to stop by 🙂
Betsy Durand says
Found this idea useful at our Vacation Bible School this year that I plan on using when my four boys grow up and bring all their friends over! 🙂 Take hamburger buns (frequently on sale for 99 cents or less), top with homemade or store-bought pizza sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake. Makes surprizingly yummy and easy pizzas. Kids and adults love them and they are the perfect snack size. Easy on the budget too!
Karen Rucker says
I’ve got teens and know the problem. I’ve found that ‘snack’ food and cereal get eaten quickly but ‘meal’ food lasts a little longer. Baked chicken lasts longer than fried because you have to use a fork. Mashed potatoes last longer than fries, etc. It especially true when it’s portioned out for them. A lasagna that you let them cut has 6 servings. A lasagna that you cut has 10. And they feel the need to get seconds no matter how big the first serving is anyway.
We also do a lot of simple cooking rather than just convenience foods. We make homemade pizza since flour and pasta sauce and cheese are cheap. It also means the kids can’t walk in the door and just eat anything, they have to fix it first.
Joy says
A 50# bag of popcorn seeds at Sams is less than $17. We use a hot air popper and melt butter. We make 3-4 large bowls at a time. It lasts quite a while. We store it in empty 5 qt ice cream buckets.
Home made is the way to go. I have 4 teens and 1 pre-teen as well as others and we can feed them for less by making our own. I also will make kool aid slushes in our Hamilton Beach The Wave that I purchased for $18 at Walmart.
Morgana says
It seems like my house is infested with people! Between my kids, their friends, and my Hubby and I entertain two nights per week, we end up feeding 20 to 50 people per day!
My freezer is my best friend. If I’m making one batch of cookie dough, I just triple it and freeze it. Same thing with easy freeze favorites like French Toast and mac and cheese. I also pre-make four loaves of PBJ sandwiches and put them back in the freezer. At any given time, I have a few casseroles in there that I can pull out, bake, and add a salad for a fresh meal for guests. Other great stock-up items are bananas, tomatoes, cheese, and bread dough. (After all, if I’m making one batch of bread dough, I might as well make three!)
Kids know that pop and soda are off-limits, but I always stock up on drink mixes and always leave an empty pitcher for them to make it in. (Even a lot of the adults drink this instead!) I also prep a veggie tray on Saturday mornings and it’s usually eaten before the weekend is over by the kids running in and out.
I’m actually lucky to live in a town with a separate Green Grocer as well as a real old-fashioned meat market. I get some amazing deals from their mark-down tables and, since, they know me, I get the inside scoop on good deals.
Kristen Deweese says
I like to do a trail mix bar. Set out nuts, dried fruit, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, granola, seeds, cereal etc.. and let them make their own mix. My kids love doing this for snack!
Barb says
I have not all the replies. I have a son (now 21) who was six foot six and ate everything he wanted. The same with frients. First I’ll say, keep it on, no matter what. Not only are you keeping your own kids safe, you’re probably the first mom and town to know what is going on, and that is a good thing. Secondly I’ll say that though its tempting, dont rely only on cards and starch. Some thoughts-huge bags of carrots and celery, and cut them up on the weekend so they are ready to put out. Make snacks, don’t buy snacks. Bake in super-de-dooper amounts on the weekend and freeze. Invest in a couple big pans. and make brownies and cookie bars. They can handle some sugar. Whenever you cook a healthy low cost meal, cook it twice and freeze the second batch-lasagnia, mac and cheese, italian casseroles, all can be heated easily and are not that messy. Popcorn in all its glories-there are a gazillion recipes on the wseb for flavored seasonings that are easy to make. Fruit in season in bulk and allow one piece per kid. Consider baking with things you can add fruit too-instead of cherry pie, I make it in a long baking pan and cut it into bigs. I’m sure I have more ideas but thsoe are off the top of my head.
Heaven says
I have 6 boys, and like the original Mom in your post, we have an open door policy – but only to double the number of kids (so no more than 12 kids total in the house at once). And usually it’s more boys that come around, so I can easily have a dozen teenage boys in my house (is summer over, yet?). Here are my tips: I don’t buy junk food. These guys burn through it, and they’re hungry again in an hour. Plus – just one of my boys can polish off a box of cereal or a bag of chips all my himself. Unless it’s free, I just don’t get it. And even when it’s free, I need to get at least 3 free boxes to have enough for 1 breakfast.
Whole grains, whole foods, and high fiber are the way to go. I make popcorn by the brown-paper-grocery-bag-full (I just make in on the stove – shaking the pan counts for upper body exercise). I have a big bowl of apples on the counter at all times. I bake my own rolls and breads with the help of my bread machine, and I always use whole wheat flour and throw in extra oats. If I’m making waffles, I’m making dozens of waffles, and the boys can take them from the freezer and heat them in the toaster. They eat them with peanut butter and honey. Potatos are another staple around here. I make potato skins, twice baked potatos and regular baked potatos and freeze them. Our freezer is full of bean burritos, too.
When I’m feeding a crowd for dinner, I make a lot of whole wheat pasta dishes. Meatballs seem to go further than meat sauce, so I make meatballs by the hundreds and freeze them. And you can stretch things even further with lots of garlic bread or rolls and some vegetables on the side.
I think that aside from just trying to fill teenage boys (I have no experience with teenage girls, so maybe they’re bottomless pits, too), I could easily be stuck in the kitchen 24/7 in an attempt to prepare food, so massive batch cooks are necessary. We do it on the weekend, and the boys have to help (and so do their friends). I’ve never had any of them complain about having to help out in the kitchen, and it’s actually a great time to listen to what’s on everyone’s mind. If you have lots of healthy, filling foods on hand, I think it’s less of a temptation to buy junk food.
Lana says
@Heaven, My teenage girls could always eat more than the boys!
Samantha says
@Heaven,
This is the best post I’ve read so far! We don’t even have kids yet, so not sure why I’m reading the comments, haha, but when we do, I want to be like you!!!
Jen says
@Heaven,
Thanks so much for the time it took to write this! My little ones are still little, 8mo-7 yrs, but there are 5 in there, meaning at one point in time I will have 5 teenagers, 4 who are boys! I do think about what I am going to do when they are older, but reading this gave me some great ideas! Thanks so much for your input I will for sure be using it in the future!
Lana says
Don’t forget a huge dish of homemade mac and cheese. Cheese and macaroni goes on sale so often that this is a great kid filler and you don’t have to have meat with it. When our 5 were growing up I always added homemade biscuits to bulk up any meal. They are so cheap to make and they really loved hot biscuits with jam or honey. Biscuits can really fill in a meal of leftovers. I used a recipe that used canola oil for the fat so they were healthier. If you are a Southerner, cheese grits are filling and cheap too. They go with anything and kids love them. As far as drop in company or unexpected extra kids for meals-my Mom taught me that you always just set an extra place(s) and there will be enough food and it is always true. God honors a generous heart and table.
irma says
I like to make homemade hot sauce and serve it with tortilla chips.
Popcorn is cheap and easy to make- we have a pop corn maker and we decide how much butter to put on it.
Fruit is good to leave on the table.
It depends what I have at the time especially oranges and apples cut up -its quick and easy to snack on.
POAndrea says
@irma,
Yes–mac’n’cheese is great! We take a recipe, double it, and and then double it again (if’n we want leftovers tomorrow or for the freezer.) Sometimes we bake it in a lasagna pan, and sometimes in mini muffin pans for snacks. You can freeze them indivivually and then microwave one whenever you get hungry. We also do the same with meatloaf, lots of oatmeal with the meat, and usually we add a box of frozen chopped spinach, chopped up harboiled eggs, and lots of onions. Baked potatos go over very well too, along with “meatballs” that are more oatmeal and egg than meat. There are always pint or quart bags of chilli and bean, vegetable, and potato soup in the freeer. We eat very little “snack food”, partly because it is so expensive, and partly because it isn’t very satisfying. We’ve found that the Eating Machines who live in our house will choose “real foood” like mini-meatloaf, baby mac n cheeses, mini-fritattas, chopped salads over snacks as long as they LOOK snack-ey. They will eat anything on a tortilla chip. (You would not BELIEVE the things you can smash into dip that kids would never dream of touching in any recognizable form!) We puree vegetables or fruit into milk, broth, or juice and keep them with shot glasses cold in the fridge because the kids and their friends think it’s cool to do “shots”. (Sometimes I worry for the future, but at least they are eating their veggies now!) We bake little hand pizzas–homemade crust is so much more reasonable, and easier than you think–and freeze them individually. It may take more planning to make “real food” but the actual time involved to make a triple or quadruple batch is the same as a single batch. The boys will eat anything hot and spicy–right now they are eating the h&%$ out of a triple batch of home made kim chee. (I never thought they would be begging me for CABBAGE, of all things!) It has been a struggle to get their friends to eat some of this stuff, but they usually come back over for another visit, so it can’t be too bad.
Jennifer says
I don’t have teenagers (yet, two boys who already eat A LOT though). But my brothers really packed the food away when they were teenagers, and our house was where all the neighborhood boys woulf hang out. My mom would just go to the grocery store and get whatever fruit (or sometimes vegetable, if it was a snack type vegetable) was on sale for cheap. If nothing was on sale, she’d just buy the cheapest thing. We would all get sick of pears or apples or bananas by the end of the week, but that was all she would give my brothers’ friends. The next week would be a new fruit. That way it was healthy and not so expensive. Of course, my brother would sit down and eat half a box of cereal and a 1 pound box of strawberries for breakfast! So she had to try and keep up with that–but he’s over six and a half feet tall now!
Joan says
To save money I buy the majority of our snacks (various cookies/fig & apple bars/pretzel sticks/etc.) at the Dollar Tree store. It’s usually not name-brand stuff but it still tastes pretty good for $1 a package. Now that’s a bargain!
Julia says
Homemade trail mix made with shelled sunflower seeds, raisins, chocolate chips and mini pretzels is very inexpensive to make in bulk and provides some protein and fiber to fill them up. Air-popped popcorn sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese (the kind in the green can) and garlic salt is good too.
We also make a fruit punch that’s one pitcher of strawberry Kool-Aid made with 2/3 of a cup of sugar and half a can of store-brand orange juice concentrate. It’s delicious and much cheaper than strawberry Sunny D type drinks.
Amber says
When I was a teenager, all of my friends would come over and they would love to eat all of our cereal. With cereal always going on sale, you can really stock up for very little out of pocket. Milk is another story though.
Becky Thomas says
I know what my mom used to do when we were teenagers. On the weekends, when we were in and out, she’d fix a big pot of beans, stew, soup or similar in her crockpot. She’d keep in on low all day, and anytime we’d come in complaining of hunger, she’d have something on hand that she didn’t have to cook on a moments notice. Plus, those things are usually quite inexpensive to prepare!
Mary says
I have a 17yo son, we are low carb folks, so we try to keep lots of protein around the house-it keeps him full for longer periods of time. I cook a pot of beans almost every week and that’s my filler food that I serve with lots of my meals. Seems that the more sugar and carbs he eats the more he is looking for more of the same. If he eats eggs, cheese, meat, veggies, fruit, nuts (all found on special) seems to keep him out of the fridge as much. Carbie snacks are left for the weekends. We also use all leftovers
Leah Rockwell says
I was actually just thinking about this last night. I have 3 younger brothers, 2 of which are teenagers. Their friends and our cousins come over often and raid our pantry. Being a couponer has helped a bit, but once they devour something that you put effort into SAVING, it kinda slaps me in the face. But then I remember that I probably spent a few cents on it, AND if it’s “unhealthy” it keeps it out of my belly!
(My brothers & cousins are all 6’2, iron-lifting, basketball-playing, always-sweating boys! They are ALWAYS eating!)
Here’s some ideas I use:
1) FREE stuff. I got a poop-load of free spaghettios and chef boy r dee not too long ago. Stock up on free, easily-made foods. My family tends to go for things in a can they can heat up in the mic.
2) Popcorn – SUPER cheap to make. Even cheaper if you have your own popper and some kernels. And popcorn is very filling.
3) Mexican Burritos – I can make these for super cheap because I get free tortillas every week. So they just take 1 out of the freezer, pop it in the mic and they’re good to go.
4) Cereal – My brothers like to devour cereal. If I can get a big box for less than $1.00 – YES!! They can snack all they want for less than $1.00.
The only thing I have a problem with is coke. My family LOVES soft drinks. I think I might start hiding them when my brothers & cousins come over.
There’s my 2 cents!
Lee says
My mother in law feeds between 15-30 every week for a Sunday lunch and does it with a roast, rice (mixes white and wild so that it goes farther), a lot of green beans, and bread. That is a lot, but she always makes it work, and you know, no matter how many show up there always seems to be enough (think loaves and fishes). If you are looking for meals that are consistenly inexpensive for large groups I would do pastas or homemade pizza, you don’t need as much meat per person to feed a large group. If you are looking for snacks I would do homemade stuff, they can even put stuff together themselves if you have it around. We use homemade bread, or tortillas to do individual pizzas sometimes, and everyone here loves “quick breads”. Popcorn is a great snack for “socializing” type foods. Good luck, and keep loving on your teens and the teens in the neighborhood they need it!
Olivia says
Pre make a huge batch of whatever cookies you want, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip cookies, etc. Then put them on a cookie sheet very close together (to maximize space, you are not cooking them right now) in the size you would do for cookies. Then freeze them. Pop them off and store them in the freezer, ready to go. I keep my homemade, pre-made cookies in a leftover ice cream bucket. Then when someone wants cookies for snacks, I grab how ever many I need and they are cooked in minutes. If the kids are older have them pre-make everything. Zippy bags also work well, you can do individual size packets with like 3 to 6 frozen cookie balls, or a huge one that contains them all. What ever works for you!
Rosie132 says
We have a local community center that has free bread giveaways every Wednesday and Friday. The local supermarket stores have their “fresh but ready to expire so can’t sell” bread delivered to this center. Anyone can go in and get some. We usually stop by a couple times a month, bring it home and freeze it. Then, when our kids get hungry or have friends over, they can pull out some bread, it thaws pretty quick, and toast it or make sandwiches. Free is always good!
Cristy says
This will work for your kids, but not their friends–Feed them protein for breakfast. Homemade granola packs a lot of bang for the buck (especially if you have access to a bulk foods store). You can double (or triple) the recipe to last even a big family at least a week. Make sure you use plenty of wheat germ and sunflower seeds/nuts for the protein..it’ll stick to the ribs all day and cut down on the need for snacks! http://doubleknotted.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/homemade-granola/
Amanda says
For drinks… NOT the healthiest drink in the world, but KOOL-AID is cheap. Goes just as fast as anything else, but you can re-make it quickly and endlessly, as the packs are about $0.20 each these days…
Tina says
I keep homemade snacks on hand. I make pizza rolls, pop tarts and other snacks. You can store them in the freezer and just heat and they eat. You could also try popcorn. It goes a long way.
JessA says
Teach your teens to cook!! I started with homemade Orange Julius in the blender and moved onto to other smoothies. When they are hungry, they can make their own.
But then we moved on to easy homemade brownies or bars. My daughter will make a batch when she has friends coming over. Homemade is always cheaper and healthier besides.
Also, baked potatoes in the microwave are cheap.
and the Mantra of our house: “It’s not done until it’s cleaned up.”
Penny says
I also like the idea of growing vegetables or having fruit trees and things. Then, no need to monitor their (or their pals) consumption, and the gardening will keep them and their friends busy for an afternoon (idle hands do the devils work, right?)
One apple tree makes a LOT of snacks every year
Candi says
We’re just entering the teenage years with my eldest step son, he’s 13. He loves fruit and I try to encourage eating of fruit and grains by always having some fruit on the counter and in the fridge. We shop at the farmer’s market to get the best quality and the best prices. And buy what’s on sale at the grocery store that week.
He also LOVES pizza. So we’ve made Homemade Pizza Pockets.
http://familystampingfood.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-night-pizza-campire-pizza.html
Granola bars, Oatmeal bars, Crunchy Granola with Yogurt, Popcorn, Oatmeal packets with dried fruit and lots of cereal. I only buy boxed cereal when I can get it for less than $1.00 per box on sale and using a coupon.
That’s our staples.
Cindy says
Stock up on a super good sale of ground beef or ground turkey. When they come over, fire up the BBQ grill and throw on burgers. Burgers and chips and you have feed growing young men all the filling protein they need and want. In the end, it’s cheaper then buying a whole bunch of different snacks every week.
Per person cost:
1/4 lb hamburger $0.42 (at $1.69/lb)
roll $0.12 (at $0.99 a pack of 8)
Chips $0.12 ($0.99 per bag)
Condiments all free with coupons deals
So for $0.66 per kid, they are full and happy.
This was my summer, all summer, with anywhere from 3 – 6 boys 2 -3 times per week. Doesn’t get much better then that 🙂
Challice says
I think the main thing, if you have an open door policy, its ok NOT to have an open fridge policy. Just set what is available on the counter.
Stuff that are more filling are-
Deviled Eggs
Celery and peanut butter
Cheese and apples
Fruit
Water/milk
chips and salsa
Just a few that comes to mind
Keelie says
I grew up with four older brothers in the house. They were all teenagers at the same time. We had so many people in and out of our house. When my friends or my brother’s friends came over, we were hospitable, but we didn’t offer unlimited snacks. Mom would invite people to stay for dinner, but if they weren’t staying, they probably didn’t eat anything.
My mom’s biggest snacks in the house were cheese and crackers, fruit, chips and salsa, and air popped pop-corn. She made healthier cakes, that were more like breads, from scratch. My mom came home from the store every two weeks and told us, “You can eat all of this today, or you can make it last”. We made it last. That was the same principle when friends came over. What was put out was all there was. When it was gone, it was gone.
I would say that when teens come to your house, if you put out vegetables, fruits, small sandwiches, cheese and crackers, they will eat it, but they probably won’t eat as much as if you put out junk food. I think they aren’t going to eat healthier stuff unless they are hungry. My husband is a youth pastor, and I know from youth events that if I put out pizza, it is all eaten and some don’t get any, but if I put out sandwiches, there are left overs.
Kassandra Wood says
I know this may sound a bit too simple, but stock up on the ‘Loss Leader’ items at the grocery stores. I, too, agree with the popcorn, homemade bread, brownies, veggies and cookies. From the sound of it, they are coming over for more than the food, they are coming over for the love and hospitality… we always had an open door policy, my friends ate what was offered to them. And, when I visited other homes I was appreciative of whatever I was given. I am guessing they will eat whatever you have to offer if it means they have your company. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Candra says
My guess is that these kids are eating so much – partly because they are hungry — but MOSTLY because they are socializing over food. Some good, inexpensive, long-lasting “social” foods might be:
– Chips & Salsa
– Hummus & Chips/Veggies
– Crackers & Cheese
– Sliced fruit w/ fruit dip or peanut butter
– Bread (get some discounted, day-old bread from your bakery) topped with bruschetta (make it or buy it)
– Pizza crackers (lay crackers on plate, top w/ pasta sauce and cheese then microwave)
– Cheese Quesadillas (microwave) w/ salsa
– Cinnamon biscuits/monkey bread (use cheapest, generic brand of refrigerator biscuits — dip in melted butter and cinnamon sugar, stack in baking dish and bake)
I know you’re not necessarily looking for recipes – but all of these items, if purchased at sale price can be fairly inexpensive and are easy for teens to throw together and snarff down in groups.
Good luck!
Anny says
At one point I had 6 teenage boys and their friends raiding my kitchen.
We had an open cereal box policy, which meant they could have a heaping bowl of cereal anytime they wanted. I made sure to stock up on breakfast cereal and never paid more than $1.00 a box using coupons etc. A box
would feed a boy or two and their friends after school or for evening snack.
Cereal is fortified, they got milk… It was the most inexpensive snack and easy for them to make themselves, and after their heaping bowl, they were full… until the next time they brought home the basketball, football, or game team for Mom’s infamous snacks.
Drasylve says
I had a nutritionist tell us that this is what she does with her teenagers. I have been doing this ever since! She noted that they are getting whole grains in the cereal, calcium and relatively low calories/sugar (depending on your cereal.) Since I get most of the cereal cheap or free, it is a very economical snack. I also have an ‘open fruit bowl’ policy to go with it.
Teresa says
@Anny, Oh, I like the cereal idea!
lynn says
One of my college profs, in the Development Across the Lifespan course I had to take for my teaching certificate, had teens and said if you leave out a tray of healthy snack foods on the kitchen table for them, they will eat that when they get home from school. They will basically eat whatever is there, just grab and shove it in their mouths, so put out a tray with apples, carrot sticks, celery, etc etc etc and they can snack healthy. Avoid high calorie dips, just look up some low-cal dip recipes online and make that instead.
Teresa says
I see a lot of good ideas listed above. I’ve always timed it so I was pulling a loaf of fresh bread or muffins from the oven when they arrived home. Having a washed bag of potatoes at the ready was always helpful too. The boys would “bake” these in the microwave, adding left overs as toppings. These foods were heavy and filling and healthier than chips or crackers. Fruit was always healthy but not a “filler”. 🙂
Lori says
I agree with the other comments – making my own convenience foods saves me a ton. I do it with my once a month cooking. It’s a bit of extra work, but the boys really appreciate having good food when they come over.
I use a par baked pizza crust recipe I found online. The crusts are in the freezer and they can add fresh toppings and cook for a few minutes for a homemade pizza. Popcorn is popular and affordable too. We have an air popper so we save from buying microwavable (and save the mess of stovetop variety). Homemade frozen yogurt and frozen grapes keep them cool on hot days. Other than that, I stock up when stuff is at rock bottom prices to supplement.
Crazyquilt says
Tortillas! Warmed and drizzled with honey, warmed peanut butter, etc. My daughter likes to make “snowflakes”. Cut tortillas in snowflake design, brush with oil, and bake till crispy. Top with chocolate chips and return to oven just long enough to melt. Spread the chocolate around, and sprinkle with pwd. sugar. The possibilities are really endless with tortillas!
Julie says
I have two boys that are always hungry and they are not teenagers yet. I load up on fiber one and nature valley bars when I can get them real cheap and the free sobe drinks here lately as well have been great for zoo and park trips. I buy whatever fruit is the cheapest and I try to buy small peaches and apples, that way they’re aren’t wasted if they want one or I cut up the apple on a platter with p.b. and they share.
Beeb says
Are you making dinner for them, or is it more of a “Raid-the-fridge-for-snacks” kind of thing? Here’s my ideas for both scenarios:
Baking: I think this has already been mentioned, but baking your own cookies would be a great way to have less expensive goodies on hand. You could make up a big batch and freeze some for later.
Breadmaker: If you don’t have one, you might want to consider it. You can easily bake delicious loaves of bread, perfect for sandwiches. These can be frozen also. Try looking for flour, sugar, and yeast in bulk (this is what I’m about to do).
Meat clearance: My stores have a clearance section where they mark down meat that is close to its sell-by date. If you find a good deal on, say, chicken, take it home, cook a big batch of it, and freeze it. Use it later to make chicken salad, casseroles, etc.
Veggie platter: I don’t know if your teens will go for this, but chopped veggies with a dipping sauce (Like ranch dressing) makes for an inexpensive snack. A big bag of carrots or celery is cheap and tastes great dipped in sauce.
Dinners: If they’re staying for dinner, go for inexpensive, filling staples: For example, a big batch of pasta served with baked potatoes. In fact, you could even use the potatoes to make snacks – homemade french fries, perhaps?
Coupons: I’m sure you’re already a coupon pro, so I’m probably just repeating what you already know, but when you find a deal on snacks that makes them pennies or free, stock up big time! If there’s a big sale coming up and you have time, it might even be worth your while to trade for coupons – there’s some how-tos about that on my website, if you’re unfamiliar with coupon trading. By doing this, I’ve gotten 83 free Lunchables (Actually, I was paid to buy them after Catalinas!), lots of Yakisoba Ramen bowls, and other snacks that would be perfect for a big group of teens. I had a few teenage relatives over for dinner once, and they were looking in awe at my stockpile and the dozens of bottles of Sprite – haha!
Good luck to you!
Catherine says
@Beeb,
I just bought flour at Costco for the first time and it was $5.50 for 25 pounds! Apparently it’s about the same as other bulk stores if you don’t want to grind your own like some people do. Yeast is also ridiculously inexpensive at these stores, too! Sugar is not quite so good of a deal, but still better than buying at the grocery store.
Beeb says
@Catherine, awesome!! I’ve heard it’s a great deal at bulk stores. I am going to tag along with a family member who has a Costco membership next time she goes there. I’ve also seen big bags of sugar and flour for a decent price at Fred Meyer.
Denise says
As long as I try to feed them healthy meals, I don’t get too stressed out about healthy snacks when they have friends over. With a household with 5 high school boys we do alot of frozen pizza, ramen noodles, popcorn, chicken pot pies, and pasta for snacks. All cheap and filling and the kids love them. Cupcakes and rice krispie bars are an inexpensive treat that the kids always appreciate. One thing I am pretty strict on is sugary beverages…we do alot of Crystal Light (though I tell them it is Kool-aid).
Jodi says
@Denise, I buy cheap Kool Aid packets and replace sugar with store brand Splenda bought in a large bag in the baking section of the supermarket. More expensive than sugar, but healthier in my opinion.
Mrs. Mordecai says
I’m thinking a full cookie jar and regular bakings of fresh homemade bread would be not only frugal but quite tempting to friends who don’t get that sort of thing at home. My mom also used to whip up 9″ square snack cakes when we’d come home from school—applesauce, spice, chocolate. Comforting, filling, and cheap!
Melinda M says
My boys are still little (9 and 5), so I’m not there yet. But I try to have healthy snack options.
We do yogurt, fruit (whatever is in season and inexpensive). Veggies and hummus are a good idea.
We do homemade popcorn on the stovetop. I measure out 1/4 cup oil and 1/2 cup kernels and pop it in a pot with a lid. Just turn the heat on medium and shake as it pops. Then I add a little salt and spray butter (almost no calories for the butter but a great taste). You can add whatever other seasonings you want – make it sweet or savory.
I also agree with making your teens aware of costs. Maybe set a snack budget, teach them how to look for good, healthy deals and let them do their own shopping. Once that stuff is gone, it’s gone.
And as a previous commenter said, set limits. Set aside one shelf in the pantry or one shelf in the fridge or one spot on the counter and that’s the snack spot. They may only get snacks from the designated place. And again, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Or keep a list tacked to the fridge with snack ideas that use items that you usually keep on hand (like the quesadillas mentioned above that can easily be made in a pan).
april says
stock up when on sale. make your own: make up some homemade pizza crusts and keep in the freezer. Hamburger buns are also good to use for mini pizzas.
we keep one of those big plastic ice cream buckets and when there’s only like a handful of some snacky(crackers, nuts, cereal, chocolate chips, popcorn, even chips, etc) we put it in the bucket and make our own snack mix. It’s a good way to make sure nothing is wasted and its fun to have different combos.
Kelly @ Everything's Coming Up Daffodils says
I like to make my own version of Baked Ranch Crackers. I stock up on oyster crackers at Smart & Final and then use this recipe to bake up a snack that’ll satisfy any salty/savory craving. You’ll have an addicting snack that goes great with lemonade (or more adult refreshments for the grown ups) in about 20 minutes!
1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix
1/4 cup (or more to your liking) Canola oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
5 cups oyster crackers
Mix the first 4 ingredients together, then add the oyster crackers. Stir and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 250 F for 15 to 20 mins, stirring every 5 mins and watching for over-browning. So good!
Stephanie says
@Kelly @ Everything’s Coming Up Daffodils, I make a version of this everytime my mother in law visits. (I just add a teaspoon of dried dill to it which I highly recommend!). She loves it and it is her snack of choice!
I always have to make extra so she has a bag to take back in her suitcase with her.
Kelly @ Everything's Coming Up Daffodils says
@Stephanie, Great suggestion! I’m going to try it will dill next time.
I do the same thing for my family visits – My brother can’t get enough of it. He says it’s “crazy good” and he’s in his early 20s, and that’s pretty close to getting a teenager’s seal of approval.
Kimberly says
@Kelly @ Everything’s Coming Up Daffodils, As soon as I read this comment/recipe I ran straight to the kitchen! I had a huge bag of oyster crackers with no idea how to get them used up. I made this recipe and my kids LOVED it. What a fantastic/cheap/easy snack for the whole family! And easy to travel with in the car on trips, too. Love it! Thanks so much!
Josie says
My kiddos are still little, but I come from a pretty big family. We could always count on my mom having three things in our kitchen: salsa, sour dough bread, and brownies – all homemade. I have found that I tend to make these same things when we have people over because they are cheap and make a lot and taste great.
Alison says
@Josie, Those are three of my favorite things!
amy@twobgardening says
When I’m feeding my three nieces, one nephew, teen daughter and her boyfriend, I like to serve carrot sticks, celery and peanut butter, apples slices, bananas or a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Stock up on the fruit and vegetables when they are on sale. A bunch of bananas are usually less than a dollar. I think if they are filling up on chips and junk they are less likely to eat their dinner, at least in my experiences.
I like the pocket change idea!! 🙂
Liz says
My mother-in-law gave me some great advice on how to feed starving boys on a budget. Yes – POTATOES! We make baked potatoes and brown 1-2 pounds of turkey meat…and then add toppings. It fills them up and is cheap. Another great option is burritos. The beans / rice / meat combination is pretty cheap and a good filler.
I have tried to keep my meat as the “side attraction” and fill up the kids on the rice / bread / potatoes. It seems to be working- however, I am at a point where I am going to have to double some of my recipes :-{
Charity says
Guess you could have each teen that enters your kitchen deposit their pocket change into a jar you keep at the edge of the counter 😉
Tracy says
While I COMPLETELY agree that teens need to understand money, I don’t think it’s appropriate to ask for their pocket change. If you start asking kids to give you their pocket change your poor kid is going to end up being the one who’s “mom makes them pay for their snacks.” Plus, even if it’s just a jar sitting there that can become awkward for them.
Definitely take measures to teach your own kids, just don’t push it on their friends. It is a good thought though!
Melodie says
@Tracy, I don’t know . . . I know that it can be done well. Our family used to have a jar where we all put our change. It was used as the family mad money and was great, unifying fun. It’s probably how you present it. I think Charity’s plan could be made to work without giving yourself a bad rap with your kids and their friends. Just my two cents. I’d have to think more about exactly how to implement it.
One thing my folks did do was have us pay “room and board”. It was a percentage of all we earned whether at work or at home. I never questioned what it was for. It was just our responsibility and made us feel like we were helping out. Little did we know, it wasn’t padding their bank at all. It wasn’t until we finished high school that they told us it had gone into a savings account just for us and that we could use it for our needs as we prepared for college. It had really cumulated over the years and I was thrilled with the surprise. It was a great lesson in sharing responsibility, not taking things for granted, and reward for savings all at once!
Charity says
@Tracy, It was a bit of a joke (hence the winkie). Sure didn’t mean to offend anyone. Please accept my apology!
Leah says
@Charity,
most of us knew it was a joke 🙂
melody says
@Charity, I’m glad you clarified…I didn’t know it was a joke either and all I could think was oh my goodness, those poor teenagers, I would be sooo embarassed if my mom did that to me 😉 🙂
Jan says
I stock up on granola bars and Chex Mix when they’re on sale, and always have fruit in the fruit basket (small gala apples, bananas, grapes) and carrot sticks in the fridge. We have a quesadilla maker, too, and I keep tortillas, shredded cheese in 1-cup portions, and cooked black beans in 1-cup portions in the freezer for quick cheese and bean quesadillas. I’ve also made brownie cupcakes, regular cupcakes, and the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (from this site!) and frozen them, for quick after school or lunch snacks. Only have 1 teen DS, but as someone else said, I think he’s hollow, he eats so much! 🙂
Dona says
I simply set limits. I let my kids pick out two snacks each for the week. I always fill our fruit bowl so there is plenty of good snack food. I rarely by soda, but I know they love it. My teens have mini fridges in their room. They get one six pack of soda a week. They can share with their friends or gulp on their own. But I do not buy any thing else until the next week. They usually request a bag of beef jerky or doritos type snacks. I occasionaly make cookies once a week. However, we do homeschool and I do not have lots of teens hanging out at our house. Soon my oldest will be going to a private highschool so that may soon change!
Melodie says
If they are teens, they are big enough to help . . . or better yet, take charge of the problem. I’d say set aside a time each week for each of your kids to do some 1) couponing/shopping within a budget and 2) cooking/baking in preparation for their friends’ visits. Not only will it teach them to appreciate all the hard work and love that goes into stocking the pantry and freezer, but it will be more healthy, and it will help them develop kitchen skills along with a sense of hospitality.
Sarah A. says
@Melodie, Love this idea!
Penny says
@Melodie,
This sounds great! My kids’ not old enough yet, but when she is, I hope to institute this plan. It’ll reinforce so many great characteristics at once…..
Kristy says
@Melodie, I love that idea too! My kiddos are small now, but I think it is one of those things I’ll try to keep in mind here in a few years.
Terri says
Also a big batch of homemade chex mix .
Erica @ eeendeavors says
My advice comes from a desire to save time and money, and if it’s just a snack, I believe it’s OK if it’s not as healthy as carrot, celery and apples.
My kids love ramen noodles. These things have such a bad rap, but Asians live on rice and noodles and honestly are lot healthier than us Americans! But, if you want, just spin off the idea.
For instance, don’t add the seasoning packet if you think it’s too much sodium, and toss the noodles with Mrs. Dash butter sprinkles or with some canned roasted tomatoes.
Also, oatmeal is a great tummy-filler and you can purchase it in bulk very inexpensively! Get creative with ad-ins, like maple syrup, raisins, jam, or I even use sugar free vanilla coffee creamer 🙂 (P.S. All You is featuring this tip that I posted on their Facebook wall, so keep your eyes peeled for it in an upcoming issue!).
One more, “sure to please” route I take is baked frozen pizza. We actually have a Tony’s Pizza factory in Salina, KS, so if you know someone who works there, you can get a case of 12 for $2. Do you have a food factory in your town? See what you can make of it. If you’re concerned about healthy, just get the Cheese pizza variety and assemble your own toppings (i.e. mushrooms, tomatoes, black olives).
Hope that Helps!
Angie says
@Erica @ eeendeavors,
Ramen noodles have a lot of hydrogenated fat in them. Asians eat rice and noodles that are closer to the natural source than Ramen, which is why they are healthier. Oh, and they eat tons of vegetables, too.
Kara says
@Angie, I am Asian; Korean in fact. I grew up in Korea & we did & still do eat lots of Ramen noodles. We just add protein (eggs) & veggies to the noodles. So, Erica is right!
Erica @ eeendeavors says
@Angie, thank you… I’m going to have to do my hydrogenated fat homework 🙂
And thanks to you to Kara!
Amber says
@Erica @ eeendeavors, Ramen Noodles have TONS of partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats!) and there are two servings in one package (who eats half a pack?!). Partially hydrogenated oils are about the worst thing you can put in your body.
michelle says
Popcorn is an inexpensive and reasonably healthy snack. I use an air popper frequently and store the popcorn in repurposed ice cream buckets. Try these yummy recipes.
Cajun Popcorn
½ t salt
½ t ground cumin
½ t garlic powder
½ t dried basil
½ t dried thyme
½ t paprika
¼ t pepper
1/8 t cayenne pepper
2 T olive oil
3 quarts popped popcorn (about ½ cup kernels)
Combine spices; set aside. In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium heat for 1 minute; add seasonings. Cook and stir over low for 1 minutes. Place the popcorn in a large bowl; add seasoning mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately. From Taste of Home magazine
Note: If you mix up the spices ahead of time in a large quantity half the work is done for you.
Microwave Caramel Popcorn
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 15 Minutes
Yields: 16 servings
4 quarts popped popcorn (about ½ cup kernels)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1. Place the popped popcorn into a large brown paper bag. Set aside.
2. In a 2 quart casserole dish, or other heat-proof glass dish, combine the brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, salt and vanilla. Heat for 3 minutes in the microwave, then take out and stir until well blended. Return to the microwave, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from microwave, and stir in the baking soda.
3. Pour syrup over the popcorn in the bag. Roll down the top once or twice to close the bag, and shake to coat the corn. Place bag into the microwave, and cook for 1 minute and 10 seconds. Remove, shake, flip the bag over, and return it to the microwave. Cook for another 1 minute and 10 seconds. Dump the popcorn out onto waxed paper, and let cool until coating is set. Store in an airtight container. From AllRecipes.com
Kettle Corn
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
Salt as desired
.Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Immediately add 3 popcorn kernels. Once the 3 kernels pop, remove them and stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover, and shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped. Pour into a large bowl, and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to break up large clumps. Yield 10 cups/5 servings
Amount Per Serving Calories: 209 | Total Fat: 11.9g | Cholesterol: 0mg From: allrecipes.com
Lee says
I don’t have teenagers yet, but I have 3 boys(plus a husband!) and my grocery budget can be broken on snacks. We don’t buy a lot of snacks either, I make most of them. I think maybe you should re-evaluate your grocery budget. Also along with that change the snacks you offer. Chips, crackers, and things aren’t as filling as apples, deviled eggs(done healthy), or veggies and dip. That being said good luck getting some of the kids to eat that. I would try to offer a favorite convenience snack with some healthy ones when friends come over. I also don’t let my kids snack from a big bowl or the bag. They can pre-portioned sizes. However I must be a better example setter. I can eat a portion and stop but tend to do so out of the bag! (oops)
I am interested in the answers here too as my 7 year old can eat 3 eggs with toast for breakfast, turn around eat 2 sandwhiches plus fruit and veggies for lunch, healthy snack, full dinner and 2 more snacks before bed. The kid is very active and skinny, but he does nothing but EAT!
Terri says
I freeze leftovers in individual containers. When ground chuck is on sale for $1.99lb we grill extra burgers freeze them seperated on cookie sheet for a few hours then put them all in a ziploc freezer bag. Then you can take out as many as you need and microwave them.I also do that with burritos and chicken., I also cook extra taco meat (then put about 1/3cup taco meat in individual sandwich bags,I then put all the ind.bags in a gallon freezer bag. )and they take out how ever many servings they need and either make nachos or taco salad or taco etc.This also helps as meals all three of my teens are in activities and sports.Also stock up when snacks are dirt cheap and hide them.Pizza,pretzels,popcorn,mac n cheese, hot dogs,brownies etc…
Ashley says
@Terri, awesome idea to freeze individual servings of taco meat for salads and nachos!
JulietsButterfly says
This is from my experience of living with three teenage boys (my brothers!) and still finding something to eat!
Make homemade popcorn. It’s SOOOO easy with an air popper. I make it over the stove for my 6 year old, but a bag of from scratch popcorn is maybe $2 most of the time and makes a lot of servings, while the boxes of popcorn make it bag at a time and it always took two bags when my mom and I shared with my brothers.
Serve all snacks in small containers. Little dessert dishes that are about the size of my 1 cup measurer hold a lot of peanuts or even some dip for carrot sticks, apple slices or some chocolate syrup for banana slices.
Buy a big fruit in the summertime to split up. One watermelon goes a long way.
Set some limits on snacks. You can make some pb crackers or cookies, but it’s a lot of time and money if you serve up 3 dozen cookies and they’re gone in 20 mins. A snack is just that, a snack. It’s not intended to fill them up. It’s a mid-meal treat. If they eat all your snacks until they fill up, they’ll have no room for dinner. I have seen my brothers go through a big bag of chips together or a box of crackers and then not want anything for dinner.
Hope that helps! I’m not looking forward to when my little ones grow up to be teens!
Jen says
Ohhh I can’t wait to hear these suggestions, sooner then later, I am going to have 5 teenagers, 4 of whom are boys! Love my big family, but what was I thinking! :o)
Lana says
@Jen, People used to say that to me about our youngest three who would all be in college at the same time. We always just said that God gave them to us and He would take care of it. Well all three are in college now and all we have to pay for this year is books. It all works out.
ann says
I swear fresh homemade bread with jam and butter will do the trick. I know kids love doritos and junk food, but give it a shot. Cracker Jack type popcorn is super cheap. A little butter, brown sugar, Karo and popcorn. It keeps really well. Make a huge batch and keep it in a tub in your pantry. This sounds crazy, but if you have a mandolin that can slice super thin, cut potatoes in super thin slices, season them as you’d like and pop them in the microwave (depending on how many you have take around 2 min). They come out like kettle chips. Totally great. brush a little olive oil on them (before you cook) if your teens need a little more flavor.
Katie says
@ann,
Haha I HATED homemade bread when I was a teenager (we did the whole-wheat-grind-it-yourself-thing) But now as an adult I love it 🙂
Catherine says
@ann,
Agreed on the homemade bread with jam and butter! Whip up a batch of the No-Knead Bread (recipe in a Mark Bittman article in the New York Times) and keep that around. So delicious!
Megan says
@Catherine, Catherine, we love that No-Knead Bread. I’m all but in love with Mark Bittman 🙂 His recipes are so easy and delicious!
Whitney says
I’d say have good beans and rice available, make a steamed potato bar (with the trimmings), lots of veggies and fruit, hummus and veggies/chips, cheese and crackers, peanut butter on fruit, sandwiches, etc. Fiber, protein, will fill them up faster.
All of these are good snacks, if not meals, and be bought for less.
Tammy's GoodPlans says
We have a group of teens that get together frequently, and the best routine we have worked out is to have a large pot of homemade soup (you can keep this frozen and thaw quickly if needed), plus lots of raw veggies, homemade popcorn, and homemade baked goods, (these can be frozen as well, or just freeze the dough and let them bake the treats fresh). Go for foods that are very filling, which means loaded with fiber. Raw foods are nutrient dense, and usually not as expensive per pound as convenience foods. Be sure that other moms are included in organizing the food. My friends and I frequently do “stone soup” meals, where everyone contributes. That also teaches the teens that they are responsible for planning ahead, and giving for the common good. And, we don’t serve sweetened drinks, only water.
Teresa says
My mom had 4 of us kids and my two brothers were both very athletic, always on the go, and had low blood sugar. They both ate constantly. My parents also had an open door policy and there were often 2 or 3 (or more) extra people in the house at any given time. My mom’s grocery budget, though, was very small.
Some of her tricks: making chili or potato soup (more water can almost always be added without anyone noticing); rice krispie treats; jello; popcorn; bananas; popsicles (the kind in the tube that you can get 100 for around $4); hard boiled or deviled eggs; and homemade cinnamon bread. All of those things were hits with all of us kids and our hungry friends! 🙂
One more note: Don’t stop what you’re doing! Take it from me. As I grew up everything in my mom’s cupboard was always fair game to me and my friends–and we knew it. Now, as an adult, I can see that she (and dad) had made it a point to put us before their wallets. It worked. Not a single one of us ended up in trouble or pregnant or getting another pregnant or something. I think a lot of that was due to their obvious love for us and open arms to our friends. So, don’t get discouraged. It sounds like you are doing something wonderful for your kids (despite the burgeoning grocery budget!)
Tracy says
@Teresa, Our house was EXACTLY the same way and we all turned out very well! Like you said none of us ever got into any trouble. Plus it was kinda fun to have the “party house” =).
Asia says
We make a HUGE crock pot of bean burrito type mixture at the beginning of the week and the kids scoop it onto tortillas throughout the week. We use about five pounds of dry beans, soak them in water overnight, rinse them the next morning, and cook them in a new batch of water all day. We add taco seasoning and other spices. At the end of the cooking time, we sometimes add chicken, refried beans, or fresh cilantro. Its a very filling and healthy snack for very little cost. Plus, the kids have learned to make it themselves, which is the most important thing to me.
The other thing we do is hand out whole full carrots and celery while the kids are sitting around doing homework or reading. That way they are mindlessly eating their vegetables before they get hungry and start raiding the cupboards and fridge. My husband also makes fresh fruit smoothies with loads of tofu and hands it to them before they start asking for food… like when they are heading out the door or right after they eat breakfast or lunch. We’ve found they are a lot less like to go for the snack food if we put the filling healthy food in their hands when they aren’t asking for it.
April says
For a snack I make homemade popcorn in a pop on the stove then season it with with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray, Chili Powder, Garlic Salt and Grated Parmesan Cheese.
To feed teens with hollow legs as I like to call them 🙂 I make pasta or rice dishes. My son and his friends LOVE my teriyaki salmon with noodles. I use a half a salmon with skin on and skin side down in baking pan and put sweet, thick soy sauce all over it and bake at 350 until done. Then I cook regular spaghetti noodles and add teriyaki sauce and blanched Asparagus, Aldi has frozen spears for $1.99 all the time. It’s healthy, delicious, almost gourment and budget friendly. Wal Mart has the half salmon in the freezer section for around $7 and you can make it feed 6 people. And a pound of pasta is free if you coupon shop 🙂
Emily C says
I’d say homemade popcorn. Get an air popper, or do the paperbag in the microwave thing. If you buy the kernels at Costco, it’s a really cheap snack.
Davonne says
Less variety 🙂 It’s a proven fact that people in general eat less when there aren’t 15 options. Also, whole, healthy uncooked foods (apples, grapes, bananas, carrot sticks, celery) will fill them up better than junk, and they’ll likely only eat until they’re satisfied instead of eating until they’re stuffed.
Good luck!
Tara says
@Davonne, Like
Kassandra Wood says
@Tara, I learned this the hard way with our children! 🙂 They still eat snacks but they certainly do not over-do it like they did when the snacks were “cute”. LOL
Megan says
@Davonne, That is exactly right! Nicely put!
Laura Quirk says
If we are hosting a planned teenager event (watching movies, pool party) I always ask kids to bring their favorite snack to share! Not everyone does, but some do and it means everyone gets to try different things while lowering my cost. I’ve found that my 3 teenage girls (13, 15 & 18) and their friends love carrot sticks and popcorn (with garlic, or cinnamon, or cayenne to add variety) so I try to buy these on sale to stock up for when kids come over. For meals it is always pasta or make our own pizzas (homemade dough and a bag of frozen cheese from the freezer).
Jennifer says
Invest in a whirlypop to save bucketoads on popcorn by popping your own! Walmart’s great value brand of kernels cost less than $1.50!
Star says
@Jennifer, Maybe it’s just me, but Wal Mart popcorn does not pop well for me, it seems like half of what I put in does not pop. I do much better with name brands, though they are SO high! I also do not have a popping machine (mine broke a year or so ago!). I put 1/4-1/2c. popping corn in a brown paper bag with 1-2T oil. Add salt, garlic, and whatever other seasonings I want on it, then I seal the bag (staples or tape) and microwave it on the popcorn setting. It works great and it’s fast and easy to clean up.
Olivia says
@Star,
All you really need is a pot with a lid. I use my stockpot, add oil to cover the bottom and throw in some butter. Then I add the kernels and turn it on high. When the first one pops, I throw on the lid and grab the handle to move the pot back and forth over the stove. This keeps any popped corn from burning. When it basically stops popping, remove it from heat. Top with salt, or what ever you want. I find that adding the butter before I pop it means I don’t have to add it later. Almost every one of my great value kernels is popped and nothing is burned every time. My 3 kids love this! Sometimes I go even a step further and make homemade caramel corn out of it.
Rebekah says
@Star,
I do the same, although mine pops just as well without the oil, too 🙂
The Prudent Homemaker says
@Star,
Sam’s Club sells a 50 lb bag of Act II popcorn for around $18. It pops REALLY well. We got a stovetop popper from Target (made by Back to Basics) and it is great.
LoveToShop says
@Jennifer, The Dollar General popcorn kernals are about that, pop better than ANY I’ve tried(and I’ve done Food Lion’s, Walmart’s, Orville’s and some gourmet I was given as a gift…)…they have a great flavor and pop up large and fluffy with minimal sharp kernals!! Also, I pop mine at home in a plain old huge pot with lid, add a little oil or butter(depending on what you prefer, we find I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter does best) and cook on medium high for a few minutes until the popping slows!
Crystal says
I don’t do snacks……..I make snacks…….snacks are a convience and I do occasionally buy some but not very often…….Take a saturday and make homemade pizza pockets, or even the kids can do it when they are over at the house…….A sandwich maker, a can of biscuit dough and toppings of your choice…….bubble pizza……..crackers and pb (now granted my teen doesn’t care for pb and crackers but he loves cheeze wiz and crackers) apples, carrots, cellery and ranch dip (buy the big container and make your own) leftovers remade are another thing that the kids go for…….A lot of times they will raid my fridge and ask for a certain thing and they make it themselves………..the favorites is leftover roast, they will make sandwiches and wraps out of it, eggs (deviled, boiled and fried for sandwiches) chicken (any type) for wraps, its a great way to use leftovers and the kids love it……..Another thing that they love is homemade fries and sweet potato fries…..
the thing I run threw the most of on days when the kids have friends over is ice and milk………Ice, I have an ice maker (just needs to keep up with us) and milk well thats a never ending battle with 6 kids anyways…….
Angie says
I do lots of scratch cooking. Granola bars, caramel corn, pancakes, cereal bars (like Rice Krispie treats) are some of my kids faves. I usually make a double batch, and I always try to freeze some of what I make.
I also make things like chicken burritos, breakfast burritos, breakfast muffin sandwiches, etc. that can be made ahead and frozen.
You can make your own ice-cream sandwiches with graham crackers and cookies, too.
Homemade cookies and cakes are always a winner (and both can be frozen, even iced cake).
The main thing is the time it takes to prepare things from scratch, but it is most always healthier and cheaper!
holi says
Where are your recipes? They would be great to have!
Angie says
@holi,
email me at [email protected] for any specific recipes you would like, i am happy to share them!
Tawra@Living On A Dime says
@holi, Here’s mine for Homemade Granola Bars.http://www.livingonadime.com/homemade-granola-bars/
Breakfast Puffs are easy to make:
http://www.livingonadime.com/breakfast-puffs/
Mar says
@Angie,
Better yet, when the kids are over, let THEM make the cookies, etc. They might eat the entire batch, but it keeps them busy and they’ll probably stick to one snack (and a gallon of milk…).
Popcorn is also filling and fruits and veggies are as well. Sliced apples and cheddar cheese are good. I think the trick is to find the things on sale AND to let the kids know that this is IT for the week. Keeping the food they can use for snacks and friends in one section of the fridge is how I make sure I keep food for meals.
Finally, I’m happy that the kids WANT to be at our house and that they feel comfortable being here. Paying for snacks is a small price to know that they are at a house without alcohol (we don’t drink since we prefer calories from chocolate and other sweets), cigarettes, and other dangers (yes, I know some kids might try to sneak them in but that’s a different topic).
Kristen says
I would say to buy up when stuff is on sale, but keep some of it as a hidden stash. I do it especially with cereal, granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. We also follow the one serving per day guideline & we don’t even have teens yet. I know my mom always kept lots of fruit & even let us snack on bowls of cereal. Some cereal is much healthier than chips or other typical snack foods & when paired with milk helps fill you up too! Good luck!
Lynn says
That’s a tough one. I am pretty sure my very slim 18 year old is completely hollow. Sometimes I think it costs me more to stock up on snacks when they are on sale or great deals because I buy more that just gets eaten quickly. Heaven help a parent who hopes to have a taste of Goldfish crackers once the teens spot them. I do have a rule that the kids can’t eat directly out of packages. Snacks must be served into some small plastic containers I have and they know they can only have one serving of each available snack per day. I have been buying big tubs of hummus at Sam’s Club lately for about 5 bucks. The hummus and some crackers or chips keep my son busy for about a week. Hummus is pretty healthy, so lately its my favorite choice for a teen snack.
Amy says
@Lynn, Bjs has hummus pretty cheap too (it helps when my husband snacks when he gets home from work)
Megan says
@Amy, Hummus is a super-easy snack to make from scratch, too. Dried chickpeas are dirt cheap and then the only major expense is the tahini (around $6 for 16 oz, depending on the store). If you have a food processor you can whip up a batch in a few minutes.
Heather says
@Megan,
Never made it before. Do you have a specific recipe you could share?
Brittany says
@Megan, OR you can just do it without tahini. I have made this recipe at least a dozen times and never used tahini. It tastes just as great!
http://mideastfood.about.com/od/appetizerssnacks/r/hummusbitahini.htm
Alli says
@Megan, You can also make your own tahini out of sesame seeds. There are hundreds of recipes online for homemade hummus and tahini. I buy sesame seeds and dried garbanzo beans in bulk.
Becky says
@Megan, The most amazing I’ve made, I have also added roasted red pepper – hmm – delicious! I believe I got a recipe on allrecipes.com or maybe in the big old standard white cookbook – Joy of Cooking!
Megan says
@Megan, I am loving all of these suggestions and variations! I was inspired to go whip up a batch of hummus for dinner 🙂 I’m especially looking forward to making my own tahini. Alli, do you use a food processor for that or do you have a fancier appliance, like a Vitamix?
Emily O. says
@Megan, We’ve found tahini cheaper at Middle Eastern grocery stores. Our local supermarket wanted $9 for a jar and we can get one at the Arabic store for like $4, and if you only use 1/4-1/2 c. per batch, it lasts a long time. I’d recommend storing it in the cupboard and not the fridge; we made that mistake once and it was a bear to try to scoop out!
Megan says
@Amy, My favorite is Mark Bittman’s recipe (though I tweak it a little):
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1/2 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled, or to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 T cumin or more to taste
juice of 1 lemon (I use slightly less)
1/3 cup of water (or more as needed)
Blitz everything in the food processor, save for the water. Then add the water as needed to make a smooth puree. Taste and add more garlic, salt, lemon or cumin as needed.
Enjoy!
Roshni says
you can even mix it up by adding half tahini and half peanut butter paste or almond butter paste to be frugal, as well as to get a whole new taste, which they will love!
Jessica-MomForHim says
@Megan, I’ve even made it without Tahini, which makes it even cheaper. Just the chickpeas, olive oil, a little cumin and salt. Super cheap and easy!
Recipe:
http://momforhim.blogspot.com/2008/10/hummus.html
Michelle says
@Megan,
Black beans instead of chickpeas works well too for a little variety.
Amy says
@Megan, Thanks! My sister had given me a recipe, but when I found it at bjs and with a coupon I think a huge tub of it came out to be like 3.50!!! I’ll have to try that recipe though. My sisters called for dried peas that you put in the crock pot with water over night or all day which I like so you don’t get all that sodium! I’ll have to try yours next : )
Brit says
We find that Concerta is less expensive than food!
@Lynn,
Sharon says
@Brit, Ha! That’s hilarious.
Aimee says
@Lynn,
Hey all, here’s an easy to follow hummus photo tutorial that I created a while back just to solve this very problem cause my kids eat a ton of hummus!
You can always add a splash of seasame seed OIL to give it that tahini flavor if you like.
Meagan says
No answers for you, but excited to here the answers! One teenager and two “tweens” in this house 🙂
Kim says
I would love to know some ideas I have 4 kids, 2 of them are hungry teenage boys.