Greedy teenager

[Brownthomas]

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 I have to specifically ask him or else he eats all the food in the house

I think all of us with teenage boys could contribute to a book called 'Living with Locusts'. It never fails to stun me the sheer amount they can put away. How are they not sick?

I CANNOT imagine going to my parents house, them offering me a slice of cake and me just deciding I’ll finish the whole cake

Exactly. We’re back to socialisation and gender stereotyping- it’s socially acceptable for boys to hoover up anything in sight because, boys. Girls are socialised to think of others, to wait on others, offer food and drink, to share.

Plus a girl eating everything in sight is not indulged. People are much more conscious of girls eating too much.

Negative label right there. He's hungry and going. Put sticky labels on things not to be eaten.

Daffodilius, might it not be a better idea to make clear to him that even with things that can be eaten, he still has to consider other members of the household? If the OP buys doughnuts for the whole family, how is she to mark them so that every member of the family understands that they can only take their share? By name?

He is 15, he should be capable of some simple mathematics.

He has a brother, for a start. How is it that not a single poster on this thread has been concerned about the brother's appetite and whether he feels thirsty or not?

It's totally normal for a ten age bit to eat you out if house and home. Lasts about two years. They are constantly starving.

It's not ok however for him to eat good for something specific that you've asked him not to. You must however provide some unlimited alternative food.

Make it clear to him what he can eat and take himself and what he can't.

My son ate a lot of toast, cereal and fruit.

mathanxiety Ds1 was/is very active. Played football and cricket at a local level, and rugby at county level. He's just graduated with a degree in sports development, so is still active at a high level. That's what I mean, I don't understand these huge, insatiable appetites I read about on here where teen boys are winding their way through entire loaves, and eating pizzas as snacks. Don't people have food budgets?
Like I said, I have four brothers, and my parents were on a very limited budget - no way could they have afforded four huge appetites, hoovering up food like locusts. We got our three meals a day, snacks were things like a couple of digestive biscuits.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/teenagers/3972855-Dd14-and-lockdown-eating-Don-t-know-how-to-handle-it

Yet a 14 year old girl eating everything gets different responses- mainly focussed on her size...

Yeah it’s entitled and piss taking

@bluebluezoo

*www.mumsnet.com/Talk/teenagers/3972855-Dd14-and-lockdown-eating-Don-t-know-how-to-handle-it*

Yet a 14 year old girl eating everything gets different responses- mainly focussed on her size...

What a massive surprise 😏

My children are younger but I have to hide stuff I don't want them to eat. Much will depend on the type of home you have - we have a free for all. Friends children have to ask before they are allowed anything which I think is hugely controlling. Somewhat selfish to have drunk the whole box but at least he did t touch the stuff you asked him not to.

Yeah I don't agree with teens having to ask before they eat anything at all. I think it's really controlling and think god how would I feel if I had to ask someone for permission every time I was hungry or thirsty! Like I said we have a stock of free for all including the fruit bowl and then a stock of once per day like the chocolate biscuits and then stuff that's earmarked for a meal later in the week which they do not touch.

It's a really fine line and so difficult to get that balance. But I'm happy that my DD now understands what's for consumption and what's to share. She knows that a bag of 4 cookies is one each. Some of the selfish behaviour on here is quite shocking!!

My son’s like this! I’ll go to the fridge thinking ‘ooh I just fancy xxx’ and lo and behold it’s gone🤯 Generally though, as DH and I are trying to lose weight, he keeps a big bag of snacks in his room. Maybe something for your son?

This is a teenager. They are non stop hungry

I would go nuts, that’s just plain greedy

I would fill the cupboards for him to see - then hide all the goodies saying they had been eaten. Give him a taste of what its like. A big kick up the arse about selfishness us needed here

Hunger and greed are not the same thing.

I hear you OP! I have 3 teenagers and an 8yr old! All of them are greedy and selfish about food. They can never just eat the treat food in moderation and share it equally they’re always bloody eating everything within days of buying it. Me and DH are lucky if we get a look in! Even if I tell them something is off limits they sometimes steal whatever it is and try to hide the evidence! It drives me up the wall!

It's not greed.
There's a lack of boundaries being implemented.
He doesn't give a shit.
Capri sun is basically water. It's not food.

Teenagers often eat and drink a lot. I would not be too bothered.

@willitbetonight and you think your way is right? A complete free for all where your children stuff their faces to the point you have to hide food in your own house? And your friends are dead controlling because their children check it’s ok before helping themselves to snacks?

It's normal. They eat so much. They get really hungry. If you look up the calorific requirements for a boy his size and age you will be shocked. You need to start giving absolutely enormous meals but about 5 times a day for a few years to fulfil the hunger. If there are interesting snacks which need no though ir preparation they will always eat these first.
I have in the past read lots of articles detailing how its sheer food desperation rather than anything else and part of the stroppy hormone driven phase (such fun). It really makes you want yo pull your hair out. I used to hide food in multiple locations and hive my DS huge meals to counteract the issue. Good luck!

@cherish123

Teenagers often eat and drink a lot. I would not be too bothered.

So you’re happy for your kids to eat whatever the hell they want regardless of whether they leave enough for anyone else or you need to buy more as it was for a specific occasion? Personally I prefer my children to have better manners but each to their own.

At least if you make them ask you know when it's all gone!
Mine have all asked and rarely did they get a negative response tbh....when they were younger I might have said, no, supper is in half an hour, but otherwise it's pretty much free ranging with checking in here.

When they were all here I'd buy stuff and they;d have to make it last, I am not made of money and if they chose to eat the 30 bags of crisps in the box on Monday , then it was pretty certain their siblings would be furious and everyone knew there were no more crisps until next week and who was at fault!

I did send the eldest into town in a rain storm on foot once as he'd scarfed something I had plans for , he did not make that choice again.

Doesn't seem like there are many consequences for the OPs son atm.

Aggressive much @itsjustabitofbanter?. No, my kids don't stuff their faces actually. I just happen to have a lot of them (5) so if I want to ensure I can stuff my face with something I tend to hide it so it's not part of the general free for all. My children are all a normal weight, sporty and eat a balanced diet. They don't go to the shop and blow their allowance money on junk (unlike some of their friends). Obviously my 5 year old has to ask as a) he can't reach the cupboard and b) he's not old enough to understand it's bad for him to just eat crisps and sweets. My older kids are obsessed with fairness so none of them would eat more than their fair share. I do think my way is better as they have all learnt to self regulate and take responsibility for their own consumption. The OP's son has done something hugely greedy in drinking all 13 capri's. I'm not condoning that at all. But he shouldn't have to check before he eats anything in the house.

@GlamGiraffe

It's normal. They eat so much. They get really hungry. If you look up the calorific requirements for a boy his size and age you will be shocked. You need to start giving absolutely enormous meals but about 5 times a day for a few years to fulfil the hunger. If there are interesting snacks which need no though ir preparation they will always eat these first. I have in the past read lots of articles detailing how its sheer food desperation rather than anything else and part of the stroppy hormone driven phase (such fun). It really makes you want yo pull your hair out. I used to hide food in multiple locations and hive my DS huge meals to counteract the issue. Good luck!

5 enormous meals a day? Utter nonsense.