The cupboards are bare, if by bare you mean overflowing
After hearing for the 642nd time from my boys that
”
There is nothing to eat in this house,
”
I decided to check on their complaint and report back to them
with my findings.
I went about my search with an open mind, as I recall saying the
same thing when I was a hungry teenager. I also have a vague memory
of their actually being plenty of food in the house; just not the
food that I was hoping for.
The cupboards are bare, if by bare you mean overflowing
After hearing for the 642nd time from my boys that “There is nothing to eat in this house,” I decided to check on their complaint and report back to them with my findings.
I went about my search with an open mind, as I recall saying the same thing when I was a hungry teenager. I also have a vague memory of their actually being plenty of food in the house; just not the food that I was hoping for.
On this day, one of my sons followed his complaint by eating leftover (gasp!) barbecued hamburger, with leftover (oh no!) homemade macaroni and cheese and day old (it can’t be!) French bread. To me, that’s something to eat. In fact, that was something pretty darned good to eat.
He left the house, and I grabbed my steno pad and began my food inventory. Not surprisingly, my findings refuted my sons’ claims and actually made me realize that we have more food, and more of a variety of food, than I even realized.
As of Tuesday night, the options just in the fridge were as follows: organic spinach and cheese ravioli; chicken tortilla soup; Greek yogurt; a packaged romaine and iceberg lettuce mix; guacamole; tortillas; eggs; string cheese; salad in a bag; chicken tamales; and a good mix of fruit. That doesn’t count the various condiments and sauces that were chilling along with this other grub.
I then checked the freezer, just to see if I missed anything.
It included chicken nuggets; frozen raviolis; “honey crunch” corn dogs, whatever those are; frozen vegetables; and waffles. So without even leaving the front of the fridge, I identified dozens of meal possibilities – and good ones at that.
So as not to shortchange my efforts, I checked the pantry to discover soup; Cup O’ Noodles; macaroni and cheese; peanut butter; cereal; granola bars; pasta; and crackers.
My goodness, maybe I shouldn’t complain so much to my wife when I can’t find something to eat.
The real reason for the “There’s nothing to eat” complaint is that there’s nothing that a really hungry teenager (or their really hungry dad) is willing to take the time to make. There are, in fact, plenty of ingredients with which to work. There is enough food to feed more than our family of four for quite a few days – and have them enjoy every meal.
In the eyes and stomach of a teenager, though, if it’s not ready right now, it might as well not exist.
My wife has offered to take our sons to the grocery store so they can have more say in what food we purchase – with some restrictions, of course, so they don’t buy a bunch of junk. They won’t have it, though. Fifteen- and 16-year-olds are seemingly allergic to being seen in public with their parents, even if it involves obtaining food. I can’t say I blame them – at least the part about not wanting to cruise around the grocery store.
When I presented my report to my younger son, he stammered a bit and said “well, we have food now, but only for a few days.” Uh, yeah. That’s how it works.
My older son, when told how much food we actually have, said, “That’s wonderful,” and proceeded to pour himself a bowl of cereal.
