Teen DS constantly wants MEAT as a snack - how to fill him up?

[Londono]

DS, 13, often declares that he wants MEAT (said in capitals to me!) when he is hungry. He often has dinner at his dad's and I collect him afterwards but rustling up MEAT not long before bed is not happening. What can I do to fill him up and satisfy him? He'd quite happily eat a load of toast/pasta but it feels like it is protein that he is craving.

If he liked chicken I'd just roast a chicken and let him snack on that but he isn't keen on chicken (will eat it sometimes). I'd like to keep away from processed stuff like pepperami/ham etc as I'm not convinced that would be filling enough. Any suggestions? I think his ideal would be if I put steak in front of him every night!!

Tell him no then What are you his slave

@outtheshowernow you seem very angry about this. Weird, when it doesn't personally affect you in the slightest

OP you don't have to explain why you might - heaven forbid! - make your son some food

If he's 13, he's old enough to cook his own snacks. Stop pandering.

Thin sandwich steaks may hit the spot.... theres usually 3 in a pack at lidl...and better than processed alternatives...freeze ok too
Full fat milk , fish fingers, my dc liked the mixed beans instead of baked beans.. i think the dark beans are more substantial...
Not yoghurt or smoothie fan but loves cheese toasties..
I made have glass of water/milk first and eat piece fruit/carrot ...before starting on snacks..
1l Cartons of chocolate milk are not too pricy either....figured better to have sugar+milk rather than just fizzy drinks
Its started to calm down now at nearly 18 but there was def a hollow leg phase.

What about Pate .would he eat that with crusty bread maybe ? some babybel or salad as well .He sounds like a growing lad!

My one is a bit older - just coke home from uni but bloody hell he is like a lion how much eat he eats.

I buy the huge big cheap packs of chicken thighs and then cook them up in various spices/rubs for a few days at a time - then he heats them up with packet rice/in a wrap etx

Pate not too healthy so maybe a couple of times pw. Marmite on toast a good alternative

For when you are up for cooking, maybe buy Asda just essentials steak for £2.25. It barely needs to be cooked though, just as a warning.

It is hard but it's skill acquisition. Both cooking and knowing his own body. Annoying as it is, better than the nephew who's moved near us with mates and is coming to us for Sunday dinners because he can't feed himself! I think he's living on ramen and pizza.

DS can and does cook for himself but I'd rather no one was cooking after dinner time. The ideal solution, imo, would be to buy a precooked whole chicken and strip it and let him snack on that in the week but he isn't keen. I might chat through the amazing suggestions on this thread with him and agree some options that he can help himself to or that I'll sort in advance and leave in the fridge. By the sound of things, this is an issue that is here to stay for a few years.

@MrsTerryPratchett I didn't even know how to make a jacket potato when I went to uni so it is something we need to teach our DC.

Teen snacks in our house - both avid gym goers. All things they can make themselves.

Wheetabix
Whey protein smoothie (one scoop, 1tb peanut butter, Greek yogurt, milk and frozen berries)
Yogurt and mixed nuts
Toastie with ham, turkey or cheese
Porridge
Roast spiced chickpeas
French toast
Scrambled egg and toast
Hummus and veg sticks

Sam Stern has written a teenage survival cook book. Yiu could get him one to look through so he could cook some things before he goes to his father's ffor him to eat when he gets back.

What about soup? Thinks like oxtail, ham and pea, beef and vegetable, cream of chicken, clam chowder, crab and sweetcorn etc.

Corned beef, you can fry "steaks" up or put it in a sandwich or make corned beef hash with an egg.

Does he eat fish? Would something like a tin of sardines or tuna work?

Could you cook an extra portion for the freezer when you do things like cottage pie or beef stew?

You can also buy tins of beef stew, Irish stew, mince and onions, chilli, beef curry, stewing steak. They can be heated quickly in the microwave or on the hob and served with bread, a jacket potato, mash or rice depending upon how hungry he is.

DS (15) who is sporty, always hungry and obsessed with food,is constantly eating. He’s just bought whey protein powder to put in smoothies (with bananas, oats etc). Could this help?

Are you my son? 🤣

Also Bovril (beef extract) either as a hot drink or spread on buttered bread or toast or crumpets. That would be more a snack than an extra meal.

Aimed at @NoDairyNoProblem !

@Radiatorvalves Yes he must be, please send steak or money for steak.

My 14 year old loves overnight oats (with oats, oat milk, peanut butter, maple syrup and banana. He usually has it for breakfast but occasionally later in the day. It's very filling too! Oats also work out really well in a shake (similar ingredients).

He definitely likes smoothies so bulkier ones of those could help

Cheese. Let him drink lots of full cream milk. Hardboil a half dozen eggs and leave them in the fridge as protein snacks. Wholemeal bread and peanut butter.
Umpteen bowls of wholegrain muesli. Tins of sardines (mashed) or tuna make a good DIY sandwich . Yoghurt. Cottage cheese.

Our string-thin active sons consumed ENORMOUS quantities of food during the teen years; hollow legs; always hungry despite three full cooked meals a day plus all the above as standby snacks.

NB is he trying to bulk out for fitness? You have to be careful with overloading protein if not done right.

I am like your son when my iron and b vitamins are down. I need real meat and broccoli. Unfortunately my dh is the cook/shopper so I don't get it but I'm allowed vitamin tablets. It actually feels painful.

Cook a stew with plenty of root veg, portion and freeze. Write down how long he needs to defrost/microwave it for.

I do homemade burgers for my 14 year old. Just get a packet of mince, divide into 4 and squish up, then flatten into a burger shape and fry or bake. Serve with a salad and a bun or wrap. You can also use turkey or chicken mince for a healthier option.