Since food was brought up I remembered back when I was growing up. Sometimes there was nothing to cook so we would all sit at the table and Mom would read the cookbook recipes to us. My baby sister couldn't really understand what she was saying and almost starved to death.
We had to stretch the food as far as it would go. We would start the morning cereal bowl with the oldest and eat the cereal with a fork. When he finished he would slide it down to the next person who would do the same. That way there was still enough milk for the youngest.