Feeding my ravenous tween. Guidance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start increasing dinner by an extra serving and he can have that extra helping. He should be capable of taking it out the fridge, nuking it, and putting his plate in the dishwasher.

+1

Also, keep on hand:

Pre-made frozen burritos
Amy's mac & cheese
Tortillas, shredded cheese & refried beans for him to make himself a quesadilla
Sandwich stuff

Be sure to establish the norm that he has to clean up after himself and leave you a clean kitchen for the morning.

Don't do what I did and allow your teen to make bacon at midnight.

[Anonymous]

Peanuts in the shell to slow him down!

[Anonymous]

What are your dinner is typically like? Sometimes different foods will fill you up temporarily but then leave you feeling hungry 2 or 3 hours later. Chinese food is notorious for doing this and so is pasta unless you go whole grain noodles.

We are big fans of skinny pop (Costco is your friend for this and other snacks foods), soft pretzels, whole milk, watermelon, nuts as pos dinner snacks.

Also, are you sure he'snot confusing thirst with hunger?

[Anonymous]

When I was pregnant I used to eat a slice of toast with peanut butter before bed every night or else o would wake up a couple hours after going to bed starving. The pb toast let me sleep through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs! All great suggestions. He is unstoppable, and his 10 yr old brother is clearly starting to ramp up as well. Goodbye vacation budget, hello grocery budget!

Ha. This is about accurate. Teen boys eat A LOT. I am off loading one of mine to college in the fall. He'll be on the meal plan there where he can eat as much as he wants in the dining hall....Bwahaha!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay.

The dcum moms of preschool girls are going to jump in soon with their carrots, kale chips and organic water drawn from mountain springs, but here goes:

Hot pockets
Carnation instant breakfast
Hard boiled eggs (cooked one dozen at a time and replenished maybe every few days to a week
Breakfast burritos, made ahead, wrapped in foil and reheated as needed
Popcorn (we prefer the real kind made in a pan but microwave is fine)
Coldcuts/sandwich
Costco mini tacos
And
Cereal with milk. Frosted flakes were my siblings go to pre bedtime meal after a day of running followed by dance lessons and soccer practice.

Ha! This is funny. Why would moms of preschool girls care what teenage boys eat?

[Anonymous]

Agree with above suggestions..try ot have leftovers from dinner that are easy to grab more of..you do not have to cook a second meal. Focus on things he can grab..we have leftover lasagna, yogurt, pb&j, bagels, nuts. cheese sticks..rather than can I make you some pancakes? Also think a time limit is fine. Kitchen closes at x:00. I will warn you when he is teen he will be staying up late and the 9 o'clock snack will become the 10:30 snack after you are asleep. All fine as long as the kitchen is clean in the am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: What are your dinner is typically like? Sometimes different foods will fill you up temporarily but then leave you feeling hungry 2 or 3 hours later. Chinese food is notorious for doing this and so is pasta unless you go whole grain noodles.

We are big fans of skinny pop (Costco is your friend for this and other snacks foods), soft pretzels, whole milk, watermelon, nuts as pos dinner snacks.

Also, are you sure he'snot confusing thirst with hunger?

The moms of young girls have arrived!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.

The dcum moms of preschool girls are going to jump in soon with their carrots, kale chips and organic water drawn from mountain springs, but here goes:

Hot pockets
Carnation instant breakfast
Hard boiled eggs (cooked one dozen at a time and replenished maybe every few days to a week
Breakfast burritos, made ahead, wrapped in foil and reheated as needed
Popcorn (we prefer the real kind made in a pan but microwave is fine)
Coldcuts/sandwich
Costco mini tacos
And
Cereal with milk. Frosted flakes were my siblings go to pre bedtime meal after a day of running followed by dance lessons and soccer practice.

Ha! This is funny. Why would moms of preschool girls care what teenage boys eat?

Oh, you'll see! We've had this conversation before, and invariably, someone swoops in criticizing all the heavy/processed/not always organic food, and suggests that carrot sticks and water are the only food allowed in their house after dinner. They do not appear to know any teenage boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.

The dcum moms of preschool girls are going to jump in soon with their carrots, kale chips and organic water drawn from mountain springs, but here goes:

Hot pockets
Carnation instant breakfast
Hard boiled eggs (cooked one dozen at a time and replenished maybe every few days to a week
Breakfast burritos, made ahead, wrapped in foil and reheated as needed
Popcorn (we prefer the real kind made in a pan but microwave is fine)
Coldcuts/sandwich
Costco mini tacos
And
Cereal with milk. Frosted flakes were my siblings go to pre bedtime meal after a day of running followed by dance lessons and soccer practice.

Ha! This is funny. Why would moms of preschool girls care what teenage boys eat?

You must be new here.

[Anonymous]

Lots of great suggestions. Couple of additions: Lunch meat wrapped around string cheese, crackers with hummus, keep a pot of meatballs or pulled pork in the fridge and he can snack on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.

The dcum moms of preschool girls are going to jump in soon with their carrots, kale chips and organic water drawn from mountain springs, but here goes:

Hot pockets
Carnation instant breakfast
Hard boiled eggs (cooked one dozen at a time and replenished maybe every few days to a week
Breakfast burritos, made ahead, wrapped in foil and reheated as needed
Popcorn (we prefer the real kind made in a pan but microwave is fine)
Coldcuts/sandwich
Costco mini tacos
And
Cereal with milk. Frosted flakes were my siblings go to pre bedtime meal after a day of running followed by dance lessons and soccer practice.

Ha! This is funny. Why would moms of preschool girls care what teenage boys eat?

You must be new here.

Nope! I just don't understand why someone would comment on something when the question was not addressed to them. I get it as I have been around teenage boys before!

[Anonymous]

In terms of timing --- DS is 16 and has been asking me for 3 years to help him remember to eat before bedtime. Now, at 16, he's finally starting to remember himself. It may be an ADHD thing, but he forgets to eat after dinner, and then is starving at bedtime.

Second the recommendation of protein. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the amount of protein the people need and especially the extent to which it varies by age and activity level. A 180 pound sedentary adult man can get by on like 60 grams a day. A 180 pound teenage athlete who is doing strength training (like many are over the summer) will need close to 3 times that amount, which is a hell of a lot of protein. In studies of college athletes that I've read, the actual recommendation is 2.1 g per kg of lean body mass, but many people aim for a gram per pound of body weight (for athletes with very low fat). This is slightly more than needed, but the research shows a statistically significant benefit to getting 100% of the recommendation vs even 90% (weird, right?) and no adverse effects of slightly overshooting for people with normally functioning kidneys.

DS eats lots of milk and greek yogurt, lots of chicken, some steak and some whey protein powder. In order to ensure that he can eat the amount of real food that he needs, he's trying to avoid sweetened beverages and empty calorie junk food (chips, cookies, etc.).

[Anonymous]

DS is only 11 but it’s starting and I’m learning from all of you what my future is going to be like. This summer I’ve bumped back dinner to 7. He eats a large snack, which may be a hamburger or something substantial around 5 then full dinner with the family at 7 or 7:30. The appetite is only just beginning. DD barely eats and is also fine with a snack then light dinner later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.

The dcum moms of preschool girls are going to jump in soon with their carrots, kale chips and organic water drawn from mountain springs, but here goes:

Hot pockets
Carnation instant breakfast
Hard boiled eggs (cooked one dozen at a time and replenished maybe every few days to a week
Breakfast burritos, made ahead, wrapped in foil and reheated as needed
Popcorn (we prefer the real kind made in a pan but microwave is fine)
Coldcuts/sandwich
Costco mini tacos
And
Cereal with milk. Frosted flakes were my siblings go to pre bedtime meal after a day of running followed by dance lessons and soccer practice.

Ha! This is funny. Why would moms of preschool girls care what teenage boys eat?

You must be new here.

Nope! I just don't understand why someone would comment on something when the question was not addressed to them. I get it as I have been around teenage boys before!

Because they think they are far superior parents raising more healthy children. I thought my kids would NEVER drink soda...the sugar...the chemicals..no nutrients. Now I am the parent of two teens. I don't buy it but they drink it out of the house when they want.