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Growing up were you a "key latch kid" and if so what did you eat?

post #1 of 45
7/28/10 at 11:16pm
Thread Starter 
I don't know if this term is used anymore but growing up in the late 80s and early 90s I was what the TV refereed to as a "key latch kid". I think the gist of a "key latch kid" is that you came home from school and let yourself in the house and fended for yourself until your parents came home. Often I would prepare an early dinner for myself which was often a premade frozen food such as Stouffer's lasagna or welsh rabbit but never TV dinners (such as Hungry Man) that just wasn't our family's style when it came to frozen food, grilled cheese was another easy one that I learned to make relatively young. For dessert Pepperidge Farm made a nice apple turnover which took a while to bake (I think around 30mins) or chocolate mousse from a box. When my parents were home at a reasonable hour of course we ate non-frozen food but that is another topic entirely. I am interested in hearing from others who looking back considered themselves to be "key latch kids" and what you would prepare to eat when home alone.
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post #2 of 45
7/28/10 at 11:52pm
Here in America we call them "latch key kids", we also call them damaged goods.
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post #3 of 45
7/29/10 at 1:22am
spam. lots of spam.
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post #4 of 45
7/29/10 at 11:39am
Usually a bowl of cereal. But I was only home alone for an hour or two until both my parents were home around 5:00 and dinner was made.
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post #5 of 45
7/29/10 at 11:47am
Grilled-cheese .. Kraft Dinner .. French fries .. all different kinds of soups .. microwave popcorn .. cereal .. and lots of easy BBQ stuff like hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, etc.
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post #6 of 45
7/29/10 at 11:49am
Like the posters above, mostly simple stuff. I don't remember anything specific, but I'm pretty certain I wasn't making full-on meals.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slopho View Post
Here in America we call them "latch key kids", we also call them damaged goods.

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post #7 of 45
7/29/10 at 1:27pm
While much younger I was definitely not a "latch key kid". Security gaurd let me into our property, man servant/maid (depending on the year) washed my [usually] dirty uniform after I changed into my normal clothes, cook/man servant/maid (depending on the year) had lunch prepared by the time all my siblings were home.

I was only a "latch key kid" when we moved to the U.S. and didn't have the above luxuries. I'd warm up frozen pizza, microwave dishes (the cheaper and more toxic smelling the better), fry french fries (frozen - pretty dangerous in hindsight) or warm up left overs (this was when I was 12 and up).
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post #8 of 45
7/29/10 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jodum5 View Post
While much younger I was definitely not a "latch key kid". Security gaurd let me into our property, man servant/maid (depending on the year) washed my [usually] dirty uniform after I changed into my normal clothes, cook/man servant/maid (depending on the year) had lunch prepared by the time all my siblings were home.

I was only a "latch key kid" when we moved to the U.S. and didn't have the above luxuries. I'd warm up frozen pizza, microwave dishes (the cheaper and more toxic smelling the better), fry french fries (frozen - pretty dangerous in hindsight) or warm up left overs (this was when I was 12 and up).

Just curious what could possibly result in such a change in lifestyle? Where did you used to live?
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post #9 of 45
7/29/10 at 1:32pm
I lived off Honey Nut Cheerios for a long time.
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post #10 of 45
7/29/10 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Another New Yorker View Post
Just curious what could possibly result in such a change in lifestyle? Where did you used to live?

Moved from Nigeria to the U.S. when my sisters were hitting college application time. You can live like a king on a middle class income in a developing country.
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post #11 of 45
7/29/10 at 4:19pm
I used to come home alone from about 6. I'd walk the dog, make myself lunch (often a hot dog or fried salami) and then I would walk to my families place of business, about 6-8 blocks. I'd never let my kids do that today, and its got to be a lot safer today
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post #12 of 45
7/29/10 at 4:32pm
Didn't happen too often, but if the we were home and the parents were out we'd do one or more of the following: reheat leftovers, throw Ellios frozen pizza in the oven, cook some ramen, eat cereal, have some ice cream for dessert, cold cut sandwiches with chips, PB&J sandwiches, fruit (apples, oranges, bananas etc), whatever was in the house.

No elaborate meals or anything with extensive preparation, cooking, or chopping involved.
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post #13 of 45
7/29/10 at 4:45pm
ramona's frozen burritos. mmm.
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post #14 of 45
7/29/10 at 5:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by globetrotter View Post
I used to come home alone from about 6. I'd walk the dog, make myself lunch (often a hot dog or fried salami) and then I would walk to my families place of business, about 6-8 blocks. I'd never let my kids do that today, and its got to be a lot safer today

Parents, as a whole, are way too overprotective today. I can't tell you how much it irks me when moms forbid their kids from playing out in the yard or on the driveway -- especially in suburbia! And to have the nerve to tell off other parents who let their kids do so... oh, the stories I could share.
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post #15 of 45
7/29/10 at 5:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by deadly7 View Post
Parents, as a whole, are way too overprotective today. I can't tell you how much it irks me when moms forbid their kids from playing out in the yard or on the driveway -- especially in suburbia! And to have the nerve to tell off other parents who let their kids do so... oh, the stories I could share.

Word. My parents wouldnt let us out of the house until they got home at 5:30pm. Friends werent allowed on the property for fear of lawsuits if someone got hurt.

Basically I survived on ice cream, frozen burritos, mac n cheese, cookies and other BS out of boredom. Lots of HFCS food. Still can't shake the gut today 12 years later even with a perfect diet. Hooray for suburbia!
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