Do your teens take supplements/vitamins?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

My son is 5'11, same weight. It's been a struggle. The reality is he eats quite well, unlike your DC. But he never, ever snacks. Only eats when he is really hungry, at mealtimes. We ensure adequate protein, and pack a 30g protein drink in his lunch on school days. He has the metabolism of a hamster and there doesn't seem to be much more we can do. His father had the same build and filled out when he was older. But maybe try the protein drinks for your son?

As for supplements, we do quite a bit: multi+fish oil+ vitamin d+ vitamin b+magnesium daily. Occasional zinc and iron on low-meat weeks.

Thank you - this is a good guide all around. It's not that my DS doesn't eat well, he's actually not even a picky eater - he just doesn't have a big appetite and he's not a snacker. Breakfast is a protein drink (30 grams Fairlife) and a Clif Bar or protein drink with 2 eggs. Lunch is PBJ (with lots of PB), and a side of chips. Dinner is usually chicken breast with salad. He loves salads so I make sure to add in a good amount of olive oil into the mix. He may have a small desert after dinner but not normally. I'm going to incorporate those supplements you suggested. thank you again!

[Anonymous]

Does your son want to gain weight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

I would be less concerned about vitamins and more about getting more calories in him. So many foods are fortified now, he is unlikely to have a vitamin deficiency. Except for vit D. My teen and elementary kids takes a D3/K2 supplement. Everyone should.

While it may seem counterintuitive, can he get more involved in sports, strength training, weights? Being more active will help drive his appetite and hopefully, in time, help him to gain muscle, will will further drive his appetite

[Anonymous]

I give my teens the adult multi-vitamin gummies from Costco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

My son is 5'11, same weight. It's been a struggle. The reality is he eats quite well, unlike your DC. But he never, ever snacks. Only eats when he is really hungry, at mealtimes. We ensure adequate protein, and pack a 30g protein drink in his lunch on school days. He has the metabolism of a hamster and there doesn't seem to be much more we can do. His father had the same build and filled out when he was older. But maybe try the protein drinks for your son?

As for supplements, we do quite a bit: multi+fish oil+ vitamin d+ vitamin b+magnesium daily. Occasional zinc and iron on low-meat weeks.

Thank you - this is a good guide all around. It's not that my DS doesn't eat well, he's actually not even a picky eater - he just doesn't have a big appetite and he's not a snacker. Breakfast is a protein drink (30 grams Fairlife) and a Clif Bar or protein drink with 2 eggs. Lunch is PBJ (with lots of PB), and a side of chips. Dinner is usually chicken breast with salad. He loves salads so I make sure to add in a good amount of olive oil into the mix. He may have a small desert after dinner but not normally. I'm going to incorporate those supplements you suggested. thank you again!

Fairlife is diet food. It is made with artificial sweetener to keep calories and carbs as low as possible. He would be better served by having a glass of chocolate whole milk and a couple of eggs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

My son is 5'11, same weight. It's been a struggle. The reality is he eats quite well, unlike your DC. But he never, ever snacks. Only eats when he is really hungry, at mealtimes. We ensure adequate protein, and pack a 30g protein drink in his lunch on school days. He has the metabolism of a hamster and there doesn't seem to be much more we can do. His father had the same build and filled out when he was older. But maybe try the protein drinks for your son?

As for supplements, we do quite a bit: multi+fish oil+ vitamin d+ vitamin b+magnesium daily. Occasional zinc and iron on low-meat weeks.

Thank you - this is a good guide all around. It's not that my DS doesn't eat well, he's actually not even a picky eater - he just doesn't have a big appetite and he's not a snacker. Breakfast is a protein drink (30 grams Fairlife) and a Clif Bar or protein drink with 2 eggs. Lunch is PBJ (with lots of PB), and a side of chips. Dinner is usually chicken breast with salad. He loves salads so I make sure to add in a good amount of olive oil into the mix. He may have a small desert after dinner but not normally. I'm going to incorporate those supplements you suggested. thank you again!

Fairlife is diet food. It is made with artificial sweetener to keep calories and carbs as low as possible. He would be better served by having a glass of chocolate whole milk and a couple of eggs.

I chose Fairlife because of the high protein amount, but I get what you're saying. Totally willing to do the whole milk instead. thanks for pointing that out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

I would be less concerned about vitamins and more about getting more calories in him. So many foods are fortified now, he is unlikely to have a vitamin deficiency. Except for vit D. My teen and elementary kids takes a D3/K2 supplement. Everyone should.

While it may seem counterintuitive, can he get more involved in sports, strength training, weights? Being more active will help drive his appetite and hopefully, in time, help him to gain muscle, will will further drive his appetite

OP here - I actually take D3+K2MK7. I am concerned about his bone health. He used to rock climb pre-covid but the pandemic did a number on him, making him more reclusive than he used to be. He has pretty high anxiety so going to school at home was actually something he welcomed with open arms - not good I know. Now I have to force him to get outside and get some direct sun exposure.

[Anonymous]

My one teen takes multis and Triphala.
Another takes multi if we give it to him to eat.

Occasional b-complex. Occasional Zinc. Occasional D3.

Both of them don't do junk food - mostly no soda, chips, baked goods etc. Eat nuts, seeds, veggies, salads, whole grains, lentils, fish-egg-poultry in moderate amounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

My son is 5'11, same weight. It's been a struggle. The reality is he eats quite well, unlike your DC. But he never, ever snacks. Only eats when he is really hungry, at mealtimes. We ensure adequate protein, and pack a 30g protein drink in his lunch on school days. He has the metabolism of a hamster and there doesn't seem to be much more we can do. His father had the same build and filled out when he was older. But maybe try the protein drinks for your son?

As for supplements, we do quite a bit: multi+fish oil+ vitamin d+ vitamin b+magnesium daily. Occasional zinc and iron on low-meat weeks.

Thank you - this is a good guide all around. It's not that my DS doesn't eat well, he's actually not even a picky eater - he just doesn't have a big appetite and he's not a snacker. Breakfast is a protein drink (30 grams Fairlife) and a Clif Bar or protein drink with 2 eggs. Lunch is PBJ (with lots of PB), and a side of chips. Dinner is usually chicken breast with salad. He loves salads so I make sure to add in a good amount of olive oil into the mix. He may have a small desert after dinner but not normally. I'm going to incorporate those supplements you suggested. thank you again!

His diet really doesn't sound too bad, really. Agree with a PP there are better options than Fairlife for protein shakes. I would make sure he has a side of fruit with lunch and for dinner would add a side of bread. My teen son adores homebaked no-knead bread (v easy to make), but will eat toasted garlic bread etc. if that's what 's available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he underweight? If he’s not maybe he’s just going to be small. You need to be ok with this.
Offer healthy foods. He shouldn’t need vitamins.

Very underweight, yes. He's 5'9, 112lbs. I'm not okay with that because it is in the "very underweight" category.

I would be less concerned about vitamins and more about getting more calories in him. So many foods are fortified now, he is unlikely to have a vitamin deficiency. Except for vit D. My teen and elementary kids takes a D3/K2 supplement. Everyone should.

While it may seem counterintuitive, can he get more involved in sports, strength training, weights? Being more active will help drive his appetite and hopefully, in time, help him to gain muscle, will will further drive his appetite

OP here - I actually take D3+K2MK7. I am concerned about his bone health. He used to rock climb pre-covid but the pandemic did a number on him, making him more reclusive than he used to be. He has pretty high anxiety so going to school at home was actually something he welcomed with open arms - not good I know. Now I have to force him to get outside and get some direct sun exposure.

I'd focus more on calories, protein, and fiber than vitamins. Getting him in a weight lifting program may help him build some bone density and also confidence, especially if he's pretty reclusive. And, forcing him to get outside during daylight hours for at least 20 minutes a day would be good too and get him some vitamin D. He could just take a walk with his headphones.

[Anonymous]

I would focus on pure calories. It doesn’t matter how many grams of protein he is getting if he isn’t eating enough calories to gain muscle/weight

[Anonymous]

Yes, multivitamin, omega 3, and extra vitamin D.

[Anonymous]

No need to give Vitamin D unless the doctor says you are deficient.
I aim to have my very lean underweight son eat a variety of food. Gummie bears don't seem that great for the teeth. I tell him 'just eat the darn fruits and stop complaining.'

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician recommends a vitamin D supplement. This is not based on any specific testing just a general recommendation. So we just give a multi-vitamin gummy that includes D.

[Anonymous]

Vitamin D - We tested for it.