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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Greedy teenager

213 replies

Brownthomas · 19/07/2020 00:07

I remember being a teenager and I was very self centered & preoccupatied.

Our 15 year old is out of control with food. He is average weight etc but needs to eat everything in the house.

Today I asked him not to eat the food for his brothers birthday party this week, but I didn’t mention the drinks .,,, I’ve just found a 12 pack of Capri sun demolished in his bedroom.

They don’t even that good Hmm I have to specifically ask him or else he eats all the food in the house

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/07/2020 00:09

Make him pay for it.

Todaythiscouldbe · 19/07/2020 00:11

My teenager eats non stop. It's normal isn't it? A 12 pack of capri sun is a bit excessive though.

OntheWaves40 · 19/07/2020 00:11

My 15 year old is exactly the same, drives me crazy! Mine isn’t hungry, I tell him if he’s hungry get a sandwich or some cereal, he’s just selfish and greedy!

puffylovett · 19/07/2020 00:38

My 13 year old is the same, had his younger brother in tears earlier when he realised there was no chocolate chip brioche left because his brother had nailed them all... again...

bridgetreilly · 19/07/2020 00:40

That's pretty normal for teenage boys. You need to just establish the boundaries: everything in this cupboard is fair game, everything in that cupboard needs to be left; don't take the last of anything without telling me. Or whatever.

WorraLiberty · 19/07/2020 00:50

Taking the entire 12 pack isn't what I'd call normal when you're living in a house with other family members to consider.

That's just selfish, which is why I think the OP should make him go out and buy a new pack.

2bazookas · 19/07/2020 00:57

Its what teen boys do IME. You've got another couple of years before it tapers off :-) They need a huge calorie intake for growing.

Our teenage boys ate us out of house and home for years. I just could not believe the vast amounts of (healthy) food they consumed every day (and all as skinny as drainppipes).

ShinyFootball · 19/07/2020 00:59

Teens eat tons. They need calories.

Eating stuff that you specifically said not to eat is not on though.

And necking 12 Capri suns that are for a party is bang out of order.

Agree he goes and replaces it.

cricketmum84 · 19/07/2020 01:01

The whole 12 pack is really excessive and unfair. I would be taking the money to replace them out of weekly pocket money.

I also have a teen that resembles the very hungry caterpillar. I buy stuff in specifically for teenager snacks and have a meal plan pinned up in the kitchen so she knows not to take things that are destined for a meal later in the week. Just bear in mind that the hormonal changes and growth spurts have a massive effect on appetite during this age so I just make sure I have cheap stuff in that they can eat without too much of an effect on the family finances! Ice pops are a huge win at the moment! Cheap and low in calories.

We also have a pad on the fridge where everyone has to write down if they have used the last of something which might be a good idea?

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 19/07/2020 01:15

You say he's an average weight so at least that is not a major concern.
Fifteen year old boys have hollow legs, they are always having growth spurts and that is why they always seem to be eating and sleeping more than adults. If they are bored and stuck at home, as he must be at the moment, they will consume more.
On a hot day a capri sun sachet doesn't go that far and if they are not actively thinking about what they are doing, (which is quite often) they could have downed quite a few without thinking of the consequences and then suddenly thought Oh No.
For example, My lot used to hover around "helping" to put the shopping away, but really having a good look at any treats they could earmark for later consumption and we also used to have to specifically say don't eat such and such which generally worked. I felt it was better that they did feel they could make themselves a sandwich or drink at that age.
Its not good that he downed a whole box and its completely understandable that you are annoyed, but on the other hand you say that you often ask him not to eat things - so I am assuming he usually complies but you didn't put the Capri suns off limit so he read that as a loophole.
I will probably get lots of flack for this but if its affordable, you could just buy one or two extra treats as pre-party snacks for them to share so your party food stays intact. We used to do that and it made things go more smoothly. You could also give him some responsibility for food shopping, that sometimes works.

Lilymossflower · 19/07/2020 01:39

The problem is the blatant inconsideration and disrespect

My toddler would go through a 12 pack of Capri sun if I let her but a fully grown teenager has the understanding of other people in the house and needing to share !!

netflixismysidehustle · 19/07/2020 01:50

Send him out to buy more. He pays

GeorgiaGirl52 · 19/07/2020 03:49

My teen would carry in the groceries and have eaten half of what we bought before we got in into the pantry and fridge! It's a growth spurt thing and will slow down. I don't know when -- he is almost 18 and still eating like a mowing machine (with no weight gain)!!

Purpleartichoke · 19/07/2020 04:01

Label or designate a space for things that are off limits because they must be shared or because they are earmarked for something. Then make sure there is plenty of food that is available. Teenagers eat. It’s what they do.

NeutrinoWrangler · 19/07/2020 05:25

It was annoyingly selfish to drink a whole box of drinks on his own, even if you didn't specifically forbid it.

Having a set location for or list of approved "eat all you want" snacks seems like a good idea, for the future. For other things, he can ask if it's alright.

Mydogisthebestest · 19/07/2020 05:39

Teenagers eat you out of house and home. It’s what they do.

He shouldn’t have drunk all the Capri sun but I would’ve put them somewhere different so he knew they weren’t for general consumption

madwoman1ntheattic · 19/07/2020 05:44

Yeahhhhhh teenagers. At one point I had four between 14 and 18. My grocery bill was astonishing. Teenage boys especially. It’s not being greedy. They are perpetually starving. If there is anything off-limits we basically hide it. Poor impulse control doesn’t help 😂

HealingCalmingSoothing · 19/07/2020 05:54

Is he eating all really high carb and high sugar food and drink? His blood sugar will be constantly spiraling which is why he feel so hungry all the time.

Also if he isn't getting any nutrients, his body will be very hungry so always seeking food.

Try proteins and fat plus nutritious food. Avoid processed and refined food and high carbs such as bread and pasta.

Those sugary drinks will wreak havoc and just make him hungry.

My son asks for pasta when he is hungry but I reduce the amount of pasta (plus make it whole meal) and add fiber, fat and some protein.

I also keep a huge jar of what my family refer to as gravel on the table. I make it up every week or so by grinding my own nuts (walnuts, Brazil, almonds) and seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, nigella, chia etc) then add some freshly ground flax for added fiber.

A liberal spoon of this gets added wherever I can chuck it in. So in soups, mixed with olive oil on salad, to finish stews etc. The fat and protein fill him up much longer than without.

I was in a real rush last week and just did a white pasta and pesto lunch. It was classic text book as the cries of 'mum, I'm starving' came in two hours later. Doesn't normally happen when I make a nutritious lunch.

labyrinthloafer · 19/07/2020 05:56

Think you have two problems -eating a lot and also was it selfishness/disrespect or compulsive eating?

With the eating, reverse it by having a shelf of things he can eat whenever he wants and that everything else is off limits. Teenagers do get very hungry.

With the disrespect/selfishness or compulsion - you might want to talk to him abput this as twelve Capri sun is not normal! In large part because they are gross! But is he ok in himself is what I mean.

Sometimes food is just hunger, sometimes it is more. It can be hard to tell.

Soubriquet · 19/07/2020 05:57

I would send him out to buy more too

copperoliver · 19/07/2020 06:00

All teenagers eat a lot, I have 2 boys but I have always taught them say 12 Capri suns that is 6 each , 4 cakes 2 each ect. We. Don't do it with biscuits ect just larger or more indulgent items x

mathanxiety · 19/07/2020 06:29

YABVU. Your boy is not greedy or out of control. He is hungry.

Teenage boys are capable of eating their weight in food before breakfast.

Yes, send him out to replace the party drinks he consumed.

But you need to feed him more meat, veg, fruit, cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, beans, cold cuts, carbs and fibre, and stop judging him for doing what is normal for teenage boys.

vanillandhoney · 19/07/2020 06:52

How often do you tell him not to eat stuff?'
Is there plenty of stuff in the house he can eat and make snacks out of?

Veganforlife · 19/07/2020 07:00

3 boys here ,hollow legs ..mine do the same with ice cream,so I just buy it the day I need it ,any left over is fair game .
Anything in the cupboard is ok to eat ,I hide some treats for a Friday night

Loveinatimeofcovid · 19/07/2020 07:01

Is he getting enough food though? Starving people don’t tend to be considerate usually.

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