How much should an 11 year old boy eat?

squibbs25

Hi guys,
I have a 'mini' problem with my ds, he seems to think that he's not full up after his dinner.
I know this may sound daft, but in all honestly i cant understand how he cannot be full.
He eats a healthy, balanced diet, breakfast, lunch, dinner (which is slightly smaller than my own portion - would be same size if he had his way :eek:), they're not massive portions but not small either!
Then he will have a pudding after dinner which could be a yogurt/ice cream/ fruit salad/ mousse (anything along those lines) maybe a treat during the day and 2 biscuits before bed.
Most of the dinners i make are from scratch, (so not processed thanks to the tips on here).
He's not an athletic kind of kid, doesn't like running about or footie, but will happily ride either his bike or scooter.
He's not fat (but not skinny either), but if he was to eat what he wants it wouldn't be long before weight became an issue.


How much do you think he should be eating?
I'm begining to feel abit confused as i'm positive he's eating enough.

Any ideas?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Squibbs

jinky67

I would give him the same size portion as you. he may just be going through a growth spurt. You may as well feed him up. Cos I now worry my 16 yo DS isnt eating enough

posted_2

If he isn't thin, he's eating enough

southernscouser

If he really was hungry he would be underweight. If he's borderline of getting fat the last thing you want to do is give him more to eat unless it's low in calorific value. If he isn't overly physically active then he'll just pile weight on.

You sure he's not just bored?

lostinrates

squibbs25 wrote: »

He's not an athletic kind of kid, doesn't like running about or footie, but will happily ride either his bike or scooter.

Squibbs

Any chance of getting him exercising more? Golden opportunity to teach him that if he wants to eat more he has to use that fuel for something. I kind of feel, within reason, its better for kids to do more and eat more than do less and eat less.

(I'm not a mother or a nutritionist or anything, though)

Peakma

My kids go through phases of being really good eaters and others when they just pick and seem to have no appetite.I tend to just go with it.If they are still hungry after meals,they are free to eat as much fruit as they like(within reason!)

whitewing

My DS is 12 and he is going through a growth spurt. He eats constantly and easily out-eats everyone else. He is a healthy weight. He does get thicker around the waist for a week or two before he shoots upwards, so he looks like he is going to get a bit chubby, but he doesn't. He is really upset if he feels we're allowing himb to be hungry, so as long as he is eating healthy food he can probably be allowed to eat as much as he wants.

tsstss7

My 11 year old can easily eat as much as me most days and then other times has little appetite for days. If he says he is still hungry maybe you could offer an apple etc to ensure he is not just after "goodies".

Also maybe he needs more fluids as sometimes thirst feels like hunger.

whitewing

Forgot to say that DS is active, but he does get tired in his growth spurts so he looks like he's lolling around doing not-a-lot but eating, when this is how he needs to be. Don't forget to treat him as a growing child (rather than a middle-aged adult, lol).

anonymousie

11yr old boys are always hungry- fact!! They are sorting out for an awful lot of growing:rotfl:

Round here we eat well, home made food pretty much always, and pud is usually fruit, sometimes other things, but mostly fruit. the "actively growing ones" are DS13 and DD2 9. THey are active kids and eat as much as I do (or more in DS case). THey get good meals and if they are hungry there is unlimited weetabix, semi skimmed milk (with in reason) and fruit by the ton. It does get eaten too, but that is OK.

For instance DS will have 3 weetabix plus shreddies and milk for breakfast. School dinner, a snack on retuen home of 3-4 weetabix and a pint of milk, and then dinner:eek:

He is now near 5'9" tall and 30 inch waist- just a bit too slim and for mens "small" clothes:rotfl:He also runs about like a puppy and plays rugby at every opportunity.

If he is hungry, feed him, you are not out to calorie restrict him and restrict his growth surely.....Offer good quality food for snacks and he will self regulate- it is difficult to get fat on weetabix or fruit!!

THe only think I do limit apart from sweet stuff (they probably get a cereal bar a day for school etc) is cheese as he'd eat a ton!

ryandj

If he is eating too much, he will soon get fat! If not enough, he will get too skinny!

If you stick to healthy whole foods, there is less risk of getting fat - so think some fruit and nuts for a snack, yoghurt with fruit in, that kind of thing