To not let him eat McDonald's everyday?

[trionyx]

I know I'm bu but I'm posting here for traffic

My grandson is 18 and lives with us. Ever since he was young he's been a fussy eater and when he was at secondary school he never ate breakfast (he'd occasionally have toast) and he wouldn't eat any lunch but he would always eat anything I cooked for dinner. And he'd always eat a Sunday roast without any problems. Lockdown last year he didn't eat much in a day but he would always eat dinner. He went back to college and he was the same as before. Recently he's wanted McDonald's everyday for dinner and he says he 'doesn't like' what I cook even though he previously ate it. Today he said he doesn't want a Sunday roast for dinner and he wants McDonald's. I've said no (he said he doesn't have any money so I'd be paying for it) and he said he won't eat then. I obviously want him to eat and he is underweight but I don't want him to only eat McDonald's! When I asked what he does like he says he doesn't know

I'm at my wits end!

What works with dc: don't fight it. don't ask him what he wants, don't comment on what he eats.

plonk down whatever you think he likes somewhere in his vicinity without any comment at all. if he is on the phone or computer at the same time all the better.

if there is something he used to like but claims he doesn't now. stop feeding him it for a couple of weeks until he has forgotten he does not like it.

when they only will eat junk, (and you think they need the calories or some other significant reason (mine wasn't safe when hungry) pick the least bad junk, over a period of time swap out for healthier versions and further apart with other stuff inbetween.

mine had all the five a day in one meal as they had pudding (fruit) everyday

they don't have to eat all their calories and nutrients in one meal if they will eat the equivalent in various snacks during the day.

He's acting like a spoilt brat and you're letting him get away with it.

If he's hungry, he'll eat what you give him.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

He's acting like a spoilt brat and you're letting him get away with it.

If he's hungry, he'll eat what you give him.

Terrible advice, from someone who clearly knows nothing about eating disorders.

One Mucky D a day? Surely he’s starving, they don’t fill you up.
He needs to watch supersize me!

I'm assuming as he lives with you, he has a complicated background with his parents? Difficult upbringings often lead to control issues and he's using food for this.

@daisyjgrey

Terrible advice, from someone who clearly knows nothing about eating disorders

Why on earth would you call this an eating disorder?

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Read the opening post again and subsequent posts by the OP. I'm baffled as to how you think it's not to be honest.

[quote GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]@daisyjgrey

Terrible advice, from someone who clearly knows nothing about eating disorders

Why on earth would you call this an eating disorder?[/quote]
If you need to ask, you haven't experienced it.

@Notanotherhun

Exactly, thank you.

What would happen if, when he said that he just wouldn't eat, you said 'OK then, let me know if you change your mind'?