Meal ideas for all weights in the family? Please help!!!

dandy-candy

I have a mealtime problem I could really use some help with!!! The plan is for the whole family to eat healthily on a budget but while myself and my 2 younger kids are fine weight wise, my eldest son is very under weight (17 years old and only 7 stone) and my husband is very overweight (45 years old, 21 stone and high cholesterol!)
I need some meal ideas that are thrifty and we can all eat but which I can "fatten up" on my son's portion. He isn't mad on cheese so I can't grate that over everything, please help me with ideas - I really want to get everyones health sorted out!!

Pink.

Hi dandy-candy,

I would continue to provide healthy meals for the whole family and concentrate on helping your son to gain weight by encouraging healthy but high calorie snacks between meals to see if you can increase his appetite. Seven stone for a seventeen year old boy does sound very underweight. Have you spoken to your GP to rule out any underlying condition and see if they will refer you to a dietician?

This earlier thread has some suggestions that might help:

Need to put ON weight.

Pink

dandy-candy

I have spoken to the GP but he seemed unfazed and just said to let him eat more junk food!! He doesn't always have much of an appetite but is very active (walking and Kung-fu) so burns off what little fat he has easily. Thanks for the link - I will go and read the ideas there right now!

procrastinator

Both my teens tend to be underweight. I make them smoothies as snacks and add in double cream where I can without them knowing. Also add egg to mash and fry as potatoe cakes to have for lunch. Home made cakes and biscuits are better for them to snack on instead of crisps. At least I think they're getting some goodness from the eggs etc. My son doesn't like cream cheese but I can add it to mash without him knowing. Encourage him to eat bananas - these go into chocolate smoothie for DS. 2 tbs cocoa in half pint milk (full fat if poss) with one banana. Wizz up and drink - very nice. If need more sweetness add a spoonful of ice cream.. Does he like pasta, this is eaten by many sports people. Add olive oil for extra fats. Good luck.