We have a French language student arriving later today for the week. I have been doing this long enough to know that feeding a teenager is not the same as providing food for anyone else. Sure, some of them are pretty adventurous and will eat all of the meals we usually eat. More often than not, however, they are fussy!
Feeding a teenager could mean eating just brown food for the week. I am not prepared to go that far, but I will adapt some meals to include common foods beloved by teenagers the world over. As long as there isn’t lots of waste, I don’t mind this.
If she was MY teenager, I would make her eat all the weird stuff. However, as she is a guest, we will eat quite conservatively for a week.
We will provide all meals each day. Breakfast will be cereals, toast or baguettes, jam, marmalade, etc. Lunch is two rolls with ham or cheese, some crisps, fruit, cake and water (they will get theirs in a reusable bottle as I refuse to buy it in disposable plastic). Then each evening we will eat our main meal together.
A meal plan for feeding a teenager
Saturday
Pizza and salad. The coach is arriving quite late and I don’t think they will want a heavy meal before bed. Fruit or yogurt for pudding.
Sunday
The students are off on a coach tour to Harry Potter World today. I plan to make a beef and mushroom casserole for them and Mr S. I will make a veggie stew for me and put any spare in the freezer. Chocolate cake for pudding.
Monday
Macaroni au gratin from Delia’s Frugal Food
Tuesday
Burgers, buns and air fried chips, probably with some salad too. I will have a veggie burger. Fruit, yogurt or cake for pudding.
Wednesday
Creamy mustard chicken from A Girl Called Jack
Thursday
Chicken or Quorn kievs with vegetables and jacket potatoes. Fruit, yogurt or ice cream for pudding.
Friday
Cheese omelettes, home made chips and corn on the cob. Fruit, yogurt or ice cream for pudding.
We only have dessert once or twice a week usually, but I am obliged to offer a pud to my guest. Does anyone else host language students and what do you feed them? Do you have any tips for feeding a teenager?
This week I am linking up with Katy Kicker. If you want more ideas on meal planning and saving money, take a look at her blog. For more of my tips on meal planning, try this post.
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sam says
As my daughter is starting to look at study abroad programs for both long and shorter durations, we ae interested in what the hosting might be like. I would feel so reassured if you were my child’s host! Question, do you get a stipend for just the costs of hosting, or do you actually get paid a room and board fee, to cover some of your time as a host? Not liovin gin a college area, nor a particularly touristy part of the US, I don’t think we ever would host in this way, but would like to think about perhaps an exchange student. I know that is usually just self funded as part of volunteering.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
We get paid about £130 for a week. Not huge money but every little helps. Obviously we spend more on food but not that much
Tina says
Ok don’t know if this will help, I have 2 teenagers and they love cheap curry noodles from Tesco! They are handy for after school. They just stick them on themselves and this keeps them going until dinner. Or toast, they love toast and plenty of bananas and satsumas.
Sarah - Mud, Cakes and Wine says
That sounds like a great meal plan and I am sure will go down well. well thought about x
Eloise says
My teenagers were given lots of Yorkshire puddings. Cheap and filling.
Sal says
I used to have Japanese and European students. We found they liked simple spaghetti pasta and tomato sauce with grated cheese and garlic bread. Chocolate pots, petit filou type puds or Ice cream cornets and fresh fruit. Muffins were always popular I used to bake a batch. Homemade pizza with choice of toppings and chips with mayo! Panini toasties with mozzarella and ham, quiche sometimes or roast chicken maybe.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
That all sounds good! Actually our student is great with food and has eaten everything so far
Kim Carberry says
Ahh! Teenagers are hard to feed. Mine can be so fussy but it’s either eat up or go hungry here. Good luck!
Great meal plan. x
Katy Stevens says
I think your meals sound fantastic! If you’re obliged to provide a pudding you could always buy some of those little individual ones from Tesco, like sponge puddings etc or make a 3 ingredient mug cake! (I’ve got one on my blog). Thanks for linking up x