How much do teenage boys really eat?

silvercar

My boys seem to want a second dinner at around 10pm.

I think the trick is to have plenty of milk and cereal and a full bread bin. Then if he feels hungry at any time he can help himself. Otherwise you will run yourself ragged with extra cooking!

BLUEBIE

Thanks Pollycat, I know its not just about the food, I'm sure there are lots of things I will have to learn! I am quite excited about it all :-)

FatVonD

I agree cater as if you have another adult man to feed but bear in mind you might need to provide another snack for him over and above his 3 main meals.

I try to always have bread, lots of tins of beans/soup or a pack of sausage rolls in the fridge. And as others have said, milk, lots of it!

Tenyearstogo

My 6 ft tall, skinny as a broom, non sporty 14 year old eats as much as my husband and I put together. We have good appetites!

The thing I have noticed is that he can eat stupid amounts of food throughout the day and still eat large main meals. He also drinks ridiculous amount of squash.

marisco_2

Pollycat wrote: »

Don't just limit youself to questions about what he likes but also ask if there is anything he can't eat.

That is a good point. Many kids have allergies. It would also be worth checking if he has a faith that restricts his diet. Not saying that to mock you OP, as I am sure you know the kid coming to you well. Just mentioned it in case anyone else is reading this thread facing the same situation. It could be helpful for them to consider this

marisco_2

BLUEBIE wrote: »

Is cereal and toast acceptable to offer for breakfast then? I cook a cooked breakfast at the moment for my dd,

BLUEBIE wrote: »

I had thought of scrambled eggs, as you say they are quite quick to make, thanks

Can I move in with you too? I could just love having those breakfasts made for me each day. How lucky is your dd hey

hulltiger1969

I have a 12 year old boy, he eats NOTHING:mad:
Yesterday he had:

Breakfast: bowl of cereal ( eaten yesterdat but not today)

Lunch: (at school) drink of juice ( I can check what he has bought on menu)
he will not take pack up and if he does he brings it all home......

Dinner: Bowl of soup and breadcake

Supper: cup of tea with 4 choc chip cookies(only small too), 1 wagon wheel:eek:


Apart from force feeding him I am at a loss.......

marisco_2

It must be challenging for you hulltiger to know what to do for someone so limited in their dietary preferences.

My sister was similar. My parents use to despair. The strange concoctions they would put together for her so as to get her to eat at all!!!

The good news is that once she hit her mid teens and her tastebuds had developed, she became more open to the idea of trying new things.

Now she will eat anything but has two children who are the most fussy eaters on the planet. What goes around comes around. When she moans to our parents about them they take a little delight in reminding her who they take after

hulltiger1969

Very challenging lol
He will sometimes visit the local carvery but apart from that he will not eat out, not at parties, friends houses or anywhere, to go out for a meal is just impossible (he wont even eat chips, how is that possible lol)

marisco_2

hulltiger1969 wrote: »

Very challenging lol
He will sometimes visit the local carvery but apart from that he will not eat out, not at parties, friends houses or anywhere, to go out for a meal is just impossible (he wont even eat chips, how is that possible lol)

Was he ill as a baby? My youngest was very poorly when he was born and for a long while after. He had to have alot of oral medication and it got to the point where he would not allow anything to come near his mouth, except for a bottle.

My gp had to prescribe a special formula milk that provided him with all the nutrients etc that he required. We had dieticians involved with him for years as he would not be weaned no matter what I tried. I can still remember the worry and concern when all he would do as an 18 month old was suck yoghurt off the end of a dummy.

He will be 8 in October and has thankfully overcome all his problems and issues and now eats like a horse. I can really empathise with people whose kids struggle with their eating habits. It is incredibly draining to worry over them and try to find a positive way forward.