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

[ChocolateCrepe]

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?

Utter shit.

@adriftabroad

lol chill out, not every meal has to be home made organic you know!

Sounds fine to me. Portions now are way too big.

Calm down

It's ok to not feel sated after every meal. If you are a bit hungry you will appreciate your next meal all the more. Too many people eat too much.

I’m curious what the dad eats at these meals? I’m guessing it’s more than 500 calories.

@ChocolateCrepe tell the dad he’s being batshit crazy and to feed the poor boy enough.

‘To put this in perspective me, a 40-ish yo woman aimed for 400-500 calories per meal when actively losing weight.

You shouldn’t be finishing your dinner and immediately be feeling hungry. That’s madness. And as for ‘appreciating your next meal,’ you wouldn’t, would you? You’d just be constantly hungry. If you’re hungry after every meal then you’re not eating enough or you’re possibly mistaking another feeling for hunger. I agree that some people eat too much and it’s normal and not unhealthy to feel a little bit hungry throughout the day - but it’s very stupid to say you should basically always be hungry at all times, even directly after eating.

Definitely not enough (as evidenced by NHS guidelines for calorie needs stated above), and the fact that your ‘D’H thinks it’s appropriate to give a teenage boy the same amount of food as a four year old is deeply concerning.

I couldn't have managed to eat all that at 13 ( trying my hardest to make 5 ft)

My cousin however could have eaten twice that at the same age, and still been hungry! ( Being a wee bit more ambitious and aiming for a good 6ft 4.)

Ds is 13 5'4. That would probably do him. He veers between needing 2baps and snacks for school and eating v little. We're fairly easy about portions. If you want more, you get more. If you're not hungry, you don't eat it.

i think it’s sad that a son can’t comfortably discuss with their dad if they’re not getting enough food. Doesn’t he feel that he can approach his father and let him know that he’s still hungry after these portions? Is he afraid of him?

My 13 yr old would eat a whole pizza, half a cucumber, tons of nuggets and more. Then in other days he’d eat a couple of slices of pizza.
I would just encourage him to tell you how hungry he is.

It does not make you appreciate your next meal. If I am really really hungry I do not appreciate the taste, I just want food that stops hunger pangs. I appreciate food best when I am hungry, but not ravenous.

Whole pizza to himself?

It does not make you appreciate your next meal. If I am really really hungry I do not appreciate the taste, I just want food that stops hunger pangs. I appreciate food best when I am hungry, but not ravenous.

I agree. Also, if I’m too hungry I get terrible indigestion like pains and I then can’t eat the next meal.

Back to the OP, I really think you need to have another word with his Dad. What’s he not getting, thinking that a 14 and 4 yo should have the same portion?

Why can't your DS just tell his dad he's still hungry OP? After all, the only person who can answer the question is your DS. I don't really see the issue here (other than a teenager not speaking up for himself). At 14 I was cooking for myself quite often so would that be an option?

Hahaha!!
Yes of course my son who you have never set eyes on, is overweight!!
He's tall, you twat!
150cm, 6 stones and 4lbs! Nothing overweight about him!!
But please carry on being your bitchy self if it makes yourself feel better! 🤣🤣🤣

This is a boy though. IME at the teenage stage boys need way more food than girls.

I would talk to Fad about his need for things to be fair and not by physical needs of the DC depending on their ages.
Did he have, what he perceived, unfair portions as a child?
Explain that a growing 13-14 year old needs slightly more than his Dad’s portion size.

Boys around 14 need 2600 cal per day.
Men in an office job need similar or slightly less

I agree with you @ChocolateCrepe, wouldn't have been enough food for my 13 year old DS but I would probably want to pad out with veg & protein rather than more carbs. What's in the Dad made packed lunch? It's probably easier to visualise that in terms of size. Mine would have had 2 rounds of sandwiches with a decent amount of protein filling, a piece of fruit (full size not mini apple or 1 satsuma), 2 portions of veg (2-3" cucumber, half a pepper, whole carrot or 10ish cherry tomatoes), 3 digestives or similar.

Could he not make his own packed lunch?

YANBU, and it's basically junk too.

He needs protein, calcium, vegetables, fruit, and carbs.

The fairness thing is utterly ridiculous.

Dad needs to get real.