Feeding Teenagers

[ElvisMom]

Winnovation parents are asked to provide 2 or 3 meals for the team during build season - meals are provided every day during build season.

We do get a lot of the typical pasta, hot dogs, pizza. However, there are a few stand-out meals that actually bring folks to the shop. One dad who loves to cook hand ground sirloin last year and grilled burgers at the shop for everyone; gourmet toppings too and fresh-made chocolate milk shakes! Another favorite is shepherd's pie - not something I've ever made, but the kids love it.

We use Sign Up Genius to let parents sign up for the day they want to bring food and they include what they will bring so we don't end up with pizza 5 days in a row. One mom always signs up for "liver and onions" but has yet to follow through on that, thank goodness.

[IronicDeadBird]

This is a lot more response then I would have expected. I will setup a way for all of us to stay in touch that doesn't involve flooding these forums. I will keep you all posted.
Cheers!

[Tim Koch]

The Roboteers also ask parents to provide at least two meals during the build season.
Some favorites have been chili and cornbread, taco soup, baked potato bar with lots of toppings, pulled pork, pulled chicken, Italian beef, meatball sandwiches, baked ham. Sides: mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, applesauce, fresh fruit , jello and we have some students who snack on baby carrots for the rest of the evening if they are left over. We will be posting additional ideas on our Facebook page in a few days.

[lpickett]

Our team has parents/mentors who provide meals during the season. There is almost always mac and cheese with some type of meat dish. We have had a large variety of food. We try to get the menu on our food calendar so there is not a repeat from one day to the next. If something happens, pizza is always a back-up. We keep leftovers in the fridge that usually get eaten the next day after school. We have a beverage fridge for juice, water, milk and soda. There are usually cookies and chips for snacks. Some of the mothers try to provide fresh fruit and items like Go-Gurt. We often have leftover pulled pork and hot dogs in the freezer from our off-season event. One of the parents will plan on using these if there is a day that does not get signed up for. We have been fortunate to have willing parents/mentors to provide this. We feel if we can keep the kids here, they will get more done. They can come to the build site after school, but priority is homework first.

[pyroslev]

Crock pot recipes are a must in that cook book.

1. A little prep, set it to cook and keep on building.
2. You can buy the ingredients in bulk.
3. Easy enough clean up if you have a pressure washer out back the shop.
4. The pots are less likely to trip breakers so they're friendly to old shops with older electrical.
5. Most everyone has one or two or you can buy them and keep them on hand.

By the last week of build season, Domino's is not a welcome site nor is most pizza. KFC Family meals are also overdone. So home meals, bring em on.

[SoulianPride]

I like this idea. During build season, unless it is a special circumstance, we do not have meals. Usually 2 parents sign up to make lunch on Saturday afternoons and then dinner for Mid-Winter Break. We, truthfully, did not have pizza last build season.

Usually we have these:
-Taco Bar
-Baked Potato Bar
-Subs
-Burgers
-Hot Dogs
-Spaghetti

[Seth Mallory]

On GRT the parents sign up to do meals. Our team has families from many countries and this reflects in the menu. Beside the regular meals that have been listed some families bring dishes that reflect their culture. Last year this included Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Jordanian, Italian, Russian, French, and some others that I was not there for. The families are given a list of dietary restrictions and either make all the food to fit or make it two ways to satisfy the restrictions. The students try food they would never have otherwise and it has been popular.

[prismiko]

On our team, we ask parents to provide meals and last year we got a nice variety ranging from subs to Chinese to roast chicken to Popeye's and our default is pizza.

I also bring some healthier baked goods - I mostly use regular cookie recipes but modified with less sugar, substitute apple sauce for some oil, and no nuts.

The cookbook sounds great! I bake for the kids because I can't stand watching them eat junk food from the vending machines.

[IronicDeadBird]

Had issues with security on the Form if you guys have recipes send them through my inbox or just onto here.
Cheers!