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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this isn’t really enough food for a 13 year old?

364 replies

ChocolateCrepe · 28/10/2022 20:46

DS has been given 2 slices of a supermarket pizza, 4 chicken nuggets, a handful of fries (literally about 12) and a few cucumber chunks for his dinner

I think this is nowhere near enough food for a growing teen
The adult who gave him the food thinks it’s plenty and I’m being silly

DS is far too polite to ever comment if he didn’t think it was enough but I’ve made him a sandwich and he is now eating it happily

WIBU?

OP posts:
BadgerLovesMash · 28/10/2022 20:48

Depends on the 13 year old, sometimes that is plenty for my dd other times she needs a bit more.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/10/2022 20:50

Is it his grandmother, by any chance?

YANBU.

thelobsterquadrille · 28/10/2022 20:50

Impossible to say.

What else has he eaten today?
Is there dessert on offer?
Does he have access to more food if he's still hungry afterwards?

On the face of it, it's not much, though. At that age I'd have had that for dinner, probably followed by dessert and then lots of toast before bed!

Mummyboy1 · 28/10/2022 20:50

That would be enough for a 10 year old!

Sirzy · 28/10/2022 20:51

Doesn’t sound a particulary small portion

BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 28/10/2022 20:51

It's small but is it a one off? It's probably not worth arguing about if so.

dizzygirl1 · 28/10/2022 20:52

Some days more than enough for DS13, some days that would be a snack for him.

If he's not eaten alot 1 day, he'll catch up the next!

MissyB1 · 28/10/2022 20:53

Wouldn’t fill my 13 year old up, it’s not filling food anyway. An hour after eating that sort of food and he would be hungry again.

cardibach · 28/10/2022 20:53

What is a slice? Quarter? Sixth? Eighth?

Oysterbabe · 28/10/2022 20:53

Depends I think. That's not a ridiculously tiny portion of food. Some days that might be enough depending on what else was eaten that day.

Meowsaidthecat · 28/10/2022 20:54

Depends really on what else he's eaten today? That'd be enough for me.

OohMrBingley · 28/10/2022 20:55

It’s hardly starvation territory. Confused

What’s the real deal, OP?

AndAway · 28/10/2022 20:55

My 13 year old DS would be hungry, he's tall and thin and eats constantly at the moment.

waterlego · 28/10/2022 20:56

Wouldn’t be enough for my 14 year-old DS. He’d need about double that (and would still require a giant bowl of cereal a couple of hours later). And no, he’s not remotely overweight. Slightly under if anything. Hasn’t got worms or owt, just growing like a weed.

FamilyTreeBuilder · 28/10/2022 20:56

Meowsaidthecat · 28/10/2022 20:54

Depends really on what else he's eaten today? That'd be enough for me.

That would be a snack for my 14 year old. Definitely not enough as a main meal.

but expect the restricted eaters to be along shortly saying how the 4 nuggets alone would have them stuffed to Xmas.

JellyfishandShells · 28/10/2022 20:59

Depends on what you mean by two slices of a supermarket pizza - that could be a couple of inadequate slivers of a small, basic item or two generous pieces of a large one with lots on the top

lljkk · 28/10/2022 21:00

My older 2 DSs that probably would have been enough at that age. They didn't become human dustbins until age 16+.

Original poster
ChocolateCrepe · 28/10/2022 21:00

@OohMrBingley DS is the eldest of 4, and is quite often fed the same size portions as his siblings (one of which is only 4!) and I can see him eyeing up how much is left sometimes and not taking as much as he would want to make sure there’s enough left for others as it’s all worked out on everyone having the same amount
I worry he’s going to end up with disordered eating
If I were cooking on pizza night I’d work it out on him having a whole pizza to himself

OP posts:
virginpinkmartini · 28/10/2022 21:01

In the sense of food 'for a growing teen,' its nutritional content that is the worst part of it, not the calorie content. If you are criticising the meal from a macro breakdown then no. It's nowhere near substantial or balanced.

Assuming it's a one-off meal, then who gives a shit. He won't die of malnutrition or starvation. You have an issue with the person providing the meal.

Original poster
ChocolateCrepe · 28/10/2022 21:01

The 2 slices of supermarket pizza is a freezer supermarket pizza, so, 10 inches maybe? Cut into 8 slices, not very big at all

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 28/10/2022 21:01

I would be lucky to get that much food into my 13 year old dd in a full day. My same age niece would eat that and be starving. Both are very slim and petite. It just depends on the person.

luxxlisbon · 28/10/2022 21:03

I worry he’s going to end up with disordered eating
If I were cooking on pizza night I’d work it out on him having a whole pizza to himself

At 13 it is really wouldn’t be normal to have a whole pizza. That’s just as disordered.

Is it really that big of a deal that he doesn’t have a huge plate for one meal? A 13 year old can make himself a sandwich after if he’s still hungry.

FamilyTreeBuilder · 28/10/2022 21:03

So it’s clearly NOT enough for him if it’s a pre schoolers portion. And he’s not saying “I’m hungry” to be polite.

Afterfire · 28/10/2022 21:04

Who is feeding him? It’s hard without knowing the relative / context.

That doesn’t sound too bad to me but if he’s still hungry then it doesn’t hurt to have something else healthy ish to top it up.

DeanStockwooooo · 28/10/2022 21:04

A lot depends on the size and toppings of the pizza , a 10 inch margarita nope a 18 inch fully meat loaded yep
Somewhere in between?
If its a lunch and the giver knew the child was going home to a evening meal it's fine
As a evening meal after a sandwich and pack of crisp, no not enough

Full day playing sports or a day lounging infront of the TV, sedate school work

There are way to many variables to say if its enough

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