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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:
zingally · 29/10/2022 12:21

It sounds broadly okay... assuming he's eaten "normally" leading up to this meal, and will eat other meals after this.

It sounds like a one-off meal, given to him perhaps by someone who hasn't experienced a teen boy before (or not for many years). I honestly wouldn't give it a moments thought. Not every meal has to be a feast!

Bignanny30 · 29/10/2022 18:02

More than enough and not very nutritious

ifonly4 · 29/10/2022 18:04

At 13 my DC would have been happy with that, but would have actually dropped a hint they wanted something more nutritious, ie asked for lots more cucumber!

Playdoughcaterpillar · 29/10/2022 18:22

It would be plenty for my 13yo DD but not my 11yo DS. Totally depends on the child. It's a crap meal whichever way you look at it.

Incognitomum11 · 29/10/2022 18:23

I don’t know ANYONE who eats en entire small pizza, that seems super greedy and far too much. My boys are 16 and 14 and would not eat that amount

thelobsterquadrille · 29/10/2022 18:28

Incognitomum11 · 29/10/2022 18:23

I don’t know ANYONE who eats en entire small pizza, that seems super greedy and far too much. My boys are 16 and 14 and would not eat that amount

😂

Georgyporky · 29/10/2022 18:38

"The 4 year old usually leaves some anyway (but annoyingly picks all the toppings off first"

What a very sensible child.

That's what I do - eat the good stuff & leave the stodge.

Peachy2005 · 29/10/2022 18:39

It’s junk though, that’s the main problem. Hope he’s getting some fibre elsewhere.

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/10/2022 18:43

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

One pizza for 4 kids. Wow

thats not a lot - I would expect least two pizzas

ds sounds lovely that he wouidnt take more to make sure his siblings eat

Millsbills · 29/10/2022 18:49

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.

Posters not seemingly able to understand teen girls appetites and teen boy appetites vary widely has always baffled me on here.

Millsbills · 29/10/2022 18:49

YANBU op

teen boys especially need more than that. I’d bet most teen girls would also need more than that to be full as well at dinner

Sikaris · 29/10/2022 18:50

Either feed him extra before he goes or if he stays the night pack some snacks.

cestlavielife · 29/10/2022 18:52

At 13 he can learn to make his own sanwich later or grab a bowl of cereal

Sikaris · 29/10/2022 18:52

Oh wait, if their dad lives with you can you just make it a habit to have a side of bread on the table at all times?

JessesMum777888 · 29/10/2022 18:55

Funkyblues101 · 28/10/2022 21:20

A very beige meal with minimal actual nutrition... Mine wouldn't stand for it but depends if they are used to living off junk.

Oh bore off back into your ivory tower.
Maybe the posters son is too polite to say anything , rather than “not standing for it” like entitled brats.

Fastforward23 · 29/10/2022 18:58

I would be more worried about the unhealthy option of food than the quantity!

JessesMum777888 · 29/10/2022 19:00

Incognitomum11 · 29/10/2022 18:23

I don’t know ANYONE who eats en entire small pizza, that seems super greedy and far too much. My boys are 16 and 14 and would not eat that amount

Hi 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Georgyporky · 29/10/2022 19:05

"Oh wait, if their dad lives with you can you just make it a habit to have a side of bread on the table at all times?"

A side of chicken & veg etc would be more appropriate for that crap meal.

Jo586 · 29/10/2022 19:05

Sounds enough to me and we wonder why we have a obesity epidemic when kids are stuffed with food.

Fluffmum · 29/10/2022 19:06

That’s exactly what my parents would have done.

Happyher · 29/10/2022 19:08

To be fair most 13 year old boys would call it a snack! It just needed a decent portion of chips

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/10/2022 19:08

@Funkyblues101

A very beige meal with minimal actual nutrition... Mine wouldn't stand for it but depends if they are used to living off junk.

lol what do you mean “they wouldn’t stand for it”?!

just wait until til they get to uni and their dinner is 7 double vodka and a takeaway pizza at 3am!

Enko · 29/10/2022 19:08

OP we had this issue when our children were growing. Dh struggled with the idea 1 needed more than the others. I had to speak with him repeatedly about it and also spoke with the children to make sure they got voicing they needed more was ok. He did get there it was never about control for him simply he did not realise a small bowl of pasta was not enough for a older child.

then ds started growing and got even more into rugby and well 1 pizza would not have done it for him on pizza nights (ds is now in his 20s and 1 is plenty )

ElizabethBest · 29/10/2022 19:09

Feeding a 4 year old and a 13 year old the same portion is weird. Why?!

Millsbills · 29/10/2022 19:09

Jo586 · 29/10/2022 19:05

Sounds enough to me and we wonder why we have a obesity epidemic when kids are stuffed with food.

Have you been or had a teenage boy?