Can you address wasting food without creating bad food habits or eating disorders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"You can have as much food as you want, but we don't waste food in this family. So start with small portions, and then help yourself to more." This will not cause an eating disorder.

+1

Also, stop ordering special treats that she just wastes. Tell her why. It's wasting food and money to "give in" and buy stuff if she's not going to eat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"You can have as much food as you want, but we don't waste food in this family. So start with small portions, and then help yourself to more." This will not cause an eating disorder.

This is perfect. Do this.

Exactly.

+1 With the suggestion of two other PPs to cut out the Ubereats, and also plating dinner in the kitchen yourself and giving her smaller portions.

P.S. I do find the "pile on" and then only a few bites a bit concerning. That is setting off alarm bells for me because it seems like food control. I don't specialize in eating disorders though.

[Anonymous]

She must not be allowed to help herself or order food like this until she understand she must serve herself tiny portions. She can serve herself more as needed, of course.

I really don't understand how she's lived that many years and you've never addressed this terrible wastefulness. Parenting fail.

[Anonymous]

It kind of sounds like she already has an eating disorder. Piling up plates or ordering to seem normal and hoping no one will call you on it is part of the drill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It kind of sounds like she already has an eating disorder. Piling up plates or ordering to seem normal and hoping no one will call you on it is part of the drill.

Disordered or just not healthy eating habits. Significant eating disorder they would’ve pretended to eat it and hide the evidence/food.

[Anonymous]

“My family likes to waste money and create trash by ordering out food constantly. Why does my teen think wasting food is okay?”

[Anonymous]

I have two teens. One eats a lot and the other is more of a nibbler. If we order take out or delivery, we never order appetizers or desserts. One kid eats the entire meal and the other puts it in the fridge and keeps eating it. Stop ordering dessert.

It sounds like your real issue is your kid doesn’t pick up after herself and leaves food everywhere until it spoils, not the eating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It kind of sounds like she already has an eating disorder. Piling up plates or ordering to seem normal and hoping no one will call you on it is part of the drill.

Disordered or just not healthy eating habits. Significant eating disorder they would’ve pretended to eat it and hide the evidence/food.

+1 to both of these. Time to act. I would get her pediatrician involved. He or she can talk to her about healthy eating habits and prescribe a meeting with a dietician at the very least, and can prescribe a meeting with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders if warranted. Good luck, OP.