People joke about the bottomless appetite of the teenager. But, like most good jokes, it’s the kernel of truth that makes it so universally funny. Unless, of course, you are a parent in the midst of those adolescent eating years and trying to keep the cupboards stocked and the fridge full…
We live in an enclave of townhouses and condos with a large, shared pool. Combine that sweet reality with the fact that we also have air conditioning and plenty of soft places to sit and I’m here to tell you that in the few short weeks of summer so far this year, the door on my house is definitely revolving. I always wanted to be one of those houses where kids liked to hang out, but no one told me about the grocery bill!
Imagine 3-6 teenagers on average 15-18 years old and you might start to get an inkling of what being eaten out of house and home is all about. Since I’m not a big junk food mom, this means keeping plenty of things like pretzels, popcorn, fruit, sandwich fixins’ and other kid-friendly foods on hand. But, it also means plenty of baking. I am not joking when I tell you that it took the gang of teenagers less than two days to eat two pies and a half of a chocolate bundt cake. That is on top of regular meals and a few trips to the market and bagel shop down the street.
I get a kick out of any comic strips or anecdotes that relate to the unending appetite of teenagers, if only because it reminds me that I am not alone and this stage, like all others before it, will definitely pass. Meanwhile, I’ve got to take the peanut butter cookies out of the oven and figure out what to make for dinner!
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