Snacks for teenagers ...

lovesabargain123

Ok I have 3 teenagers, one of whom is prone to being a bit chubby (read that as greedy;-) the other 2 are like rakes but he does pe 5 days a week and a paper round , plus walks the dogs 2 hrs a day but is still large, he's not fat he's a big lad at 15 he's over 6ft and has te appetite of a horse, unfortunately he has a very limited diet as recently doesn't like things....

Anyway he comes home from school starving and has sandwiches and crips and biscuits and anything he can get his hands on! I've not bought any crisps this week it I'm wondering what your teens eat when they get home for a snack?? He doesn't like fruit :mad:

I don't want to make a massive deal out of it but equally not happy about the amount of rubbish he eats!

Thanks x

claire16c

I dont see how someone can not like all fruit. I think its more of a case of being a fussy eater and just refusing to eat it. Which is not the same.

What about yoghurt? Bowl of cereal? Humous and veg to dip in - although if someone is fussy enough to kick up a fuss about fruit...

Stop buying the biscuits too, replace it with healthier stuff and eventually he might give in - someone will if theyre hungry enough.

And also could you cook dinner a bit earlier?

When I got in from school I used to eat a biscuit and a yoghurt. Some of the kids Ive looked after have had stuff like crackers and cheese, fruit, baby bels, yoghurt, raw veg, crisps.

Does he have a hot dinner at school or sandwiches?

skintchick

I used to like quiche when I got home from school. And I used to make toast pizzas - toast one side of bread, on other side spread ketchup/tomato puree and then cheese and dried herbs, then toast till cheese melts.

Or pate on toast.

claire16c

skintchick wrote: »

I used to like quiche when I got home from school. And I used to make toast pizzas - toast one side of bread, on other side spread ketchup/tomato puree and then cheese and dried herbs, then toast till cheese melts.

Or pate on toast.

ooh I used to do that with pitta bread.

Chickabiddybex

Stuff like porridge is good cos it keeps you fuller for longer. And you can get lower calorie biscuits so if he has to have them at least it's less calorific.

I recently discovered how low cal popcorn is! I get multipacks from sainsburys with different flavours like crisps but any will do. As long as they're not coated in sugar and chocolate they're great! I recommend the paprika ones. It feels like eating crisps but SO low calorie in comparison!

As for low cal pizzas I get the warburtons square flatbread and put ketchup or BBQ sauce on, some sliced onion, tomato and peppers, bit of ham or cooked chicken and a small sprinkle of cheese. They're divine and very low calorie!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a few chocolate bars when he does the papers and some other stuff when he's out with the dogs.

The only lad I knew of that sort of height would eat half a chicken as a snack and still complain he was hungry, whilst being normal weight, so all I could suggest is trying to increase the level of protein he eats - carbs don't fill you up and make putting on weight the easiest thing in the world.

Carbs may be cheap, but they aren't going to help him slim down.

fluffnutter

Always was a bowl of cereal when I got in from school. Get an unsweetened one and have skimmed milk. Sorted.

peachyprice

I always have a plentiful supply of cheese and ham, they make toasties with toaster bags when they get in, I think it feels more filling because it's a hot snack.

One of mine also loves noodles, which again as a hot snack is more fulfilling.

There's always homemade cakes on offer too, none of mine are particularly keen on fruit, but two are not too bad on veg. My DD loves the little sweet peppers they sell in Sainsburys, they're £1 a pack but there are about 15 of these little peppers in the pack.

podperson

What stands out is that he is doing a lot of exercise so must be burning a lot of cals - but might not be 'replacing' it with the right kind of foods so is getting a quick energy rush and then tired/hungry again. What does he take to school?
If he's doing PE such a lot is that something he's focusing on particularly or might want to take further - do they do anything on sports science and how the body uses different foods? If not might be worth talking about with him as if he's into sports he might take that more seriously then just 'stop eating junk' etc.

Brighton_belle

I think what the average teenage girl might find sufficient for a snack is completely different to a teenage boy.
Yoghurt really isn't ever going to be chosen IMHO (and personally never fills me up either). I adore fruit and eat loads, but it doesn't appeal if I am really hungry - I need solid food - like protein of a large sandwich.
I think it might be worth considering getting a loaf of wholemeal bread and stuff for him to make a couple of doorstep sandwiches every day when he comes in: the bread will be good fibre and it will be much better than the junk.

I don't think it is necessarily greed, I do think a lot of growing teenage boys really do get very hungry (Though you know him best). It is a long gap between lunch and dinner. Maybe think of it as him needing 4 meals a day.

Crisps seem to have snuck in to the national consciousness as a normal every day snack. When I was growing up (yeah, aeons ago:D) they were a treat for picnics and parties only.

Chakani

I agree with the poster who said that yoghurt/fruit just aren't that appealing when you're tired and hungry. Neither is anything that takes a great deal of preparation. I also agree that something hot sometimes satisfies more, just because it's hot.

I think you need to sit down with him and work out what is acceptable to you in terms of nutrition, and acceptable to him in terms of what he will actually eat.

Wholegrain and complex carbs are good, as is protein for lasting fullness (I know we are talking relatively here, but until dinnertime!!) - what about porridge with a banana and a handful of nuts and seeds added, wholewheat pasta or noodles with some meat or cheese, or tinned fish, home-made flapjacks with nuts/seeds in, thick soup with a chunk of cheese?