Feeding teens

[Anonymous]

We're a family of three - mom, DS13 (almost 14) and DS8. We're all vegetarian, all healthy weights, I meal plan and I try to cook relatively healthy foods. Relatively recently, my DS13 started eating a ton more food and my DS8 started to become less picky about his meals and to eat more of what I make. With those two factors added together, I'm having some meals where I haven't made enough food for them, or where I was expecting to have leftovers for another night, and there are no leftovers to be had (messing up my meal plan). The fact that they're both home more often in the summer compounds the issue.

I know there was an old threat out there about how to make enough food for a family with teens (where the mom kept adding more and more foods to her meals to make enough food for the family), but I can't find it. Does anyone have a link to that thread?

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mom with two boys, one college-aged and one senior in HS. I double almost every recipe I make. We don't eat chicken/beef/pork but when I cook fish I always cook 2.5 - 3lbs. When I make spaghetti I use 1.5 boxes of noodles and I add veggie ground beef to the sauce plus a can of diced tomatoes. Always serve it with a vegetable and crusty garlic bread. When I cook tofu I always use 2 packages instead of 1.

Leftovers are important, but occasionally there are not any.

I try to keep some sort of homemade baked good prepared. Usually muffins. My kids love these and they are relatively healthy. I reduce the sugar by 1/2 cup and use avocado oil.
https://fortheloveofcooking.net/2009/02/carrot-coconut-and-walnut-muffins.html


I think this might be the old thread you are talking about.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/465595.page


And this one had some good ideas too.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/961771.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single mom with two boys, one college-aged and one senior in HS. I double almost every recipe I make. We don't eat chicken/beef/pork but when I cook fish I always cook 2.5 - 3lbs. When I make spaghetti I use 1.5 boxes of noodles and I add veggie ground beef to the sauce plus a can of diced tomatoes. Always serve it with a vegetable and crusty garlic bread. When I cook tofu I always use 2 packages instead of 1.

Leftovers are important, but occasionally there are not any.

I try to keep some sort of homemade baked good prepared. Usually muffins. My kids love these and they are relatively healthy. I reduce the sugar by 1/2 cup and use avocado oil.
https://fortheloveofcooking.net/2009/02/carrot-coconut-and-walnut-muffins.html


I think this might be the old thread you are talking about.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/465595.page


And this one had some good ideas too.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/961771.page

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Two things my teen boy likes are veggie enchiladas with lentils; and breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and soyrizo from grander joes. He will typically eat three enchiladas or tacos. And usually has ice cream for dessert. And snacks during the day.
Smoothies are also an amazing side—a do one with a Greek plus each yogurt, milk, chia seeds. Steamed spinach, a banana, and frozen mango—-it’s a ton of fiber and protein and very filling.

[Anonymous]

Do you/your kids eat eggs? I have two teens and they eat so much. Eggs, cheese, tofu, beans all work, and they eat make your pizza, quesedilla's and popcorn in between "meals" so they aren't as hungry at meal times.