Helping a teenager to put weight on - supplements?

[superdeeduper]

Just a bit of advice needed about weight gain for my 13 year old ds.

He is naturally slim (as are the family) but I feel at the moment too thin. There is not a bit of fat on him anywhere. We are vegetarian although he eats fish and I supplement his diet with a good multivitamin. Encourage things like peanut butter etc although he wont drink whole milk. Think I have a good balance re his diet apart from at school where is he is eating more fatty foods like pastry, chips etc.

Gp not interested despite his weight being well below the average for his age. I have researched online protein supplements although it is hard to tell which are suitable for his age. Does anyone know anything about whey protein? I do not intend these to replace meals, only give him a bit of an extra boost.

I do not want him to feel conscious about this although my mother cant seem to help herself making a comment, especially in the summer when he wears shorts etc. He is also at high school but looks so small next to the rest of his friends.

I cant help but think he looks like the Mr Muscle guy! There seems to be so much help out there for weight reduction but none for weight gain.

I wouldn't put him on proteins. Actually a bit shocked you would think about it before going to the food way.

Give him more cheese, tofu, fishes, eggs and cakes! You should increase his portions as well as a teenage boy he should be eating much more than you.
Try him on 4 to 5 meals a day (smaller meals, packed with vitamins (fruits and veg) and proteins with some strach as well (may be he is eating to healthly?) bread, rice.... (1/2 of the meal is fibers, 2/3 of the remaning half is starch and the rest proteins)
He might need some meat (2 of my vegetarains' freinds in RL had to revert to omnivorus diets because of health reasons).
If everything fails may be you can talk to a dietician they might listen to you more than your GP.

My StepDB was so skinny as a teen he had to drink beer () to bulk up, he resulted in him hating the stuff as a grown-up.

It's normal for some teenagers to be very skinny, especially if they are very active.

How is his health in general? Are his energy levels low?

For the rest, I agree with mamaloco. All vitamins and calories for a healthy teenager should come from food.

You could be describing my ds who is small and skinny - what percentlile was he on at birth - is he on track.?mine was only on the 2nd so is tiny...Hes started to eat meat and i just feed at every opportunity - he too is v v thin looks like he could snap in two but is very strong and sporty!!

Thanks for your advice. I just got a bit worried I guess after another comment from my mum (Aren't mums great?!)

I think you are right Mamaloco about being too healthy although as he is at high school he has easier access to junk food. He definitely doesnt need meat as his iron levels are fine and he is very healthy. He is never ill and is fit and active too. Having been veggie all my life I am extra careful with diet and ensure a good balance of food.

I dont know if this sounds daft but I had a very unhappy time as a teenager and also suffered from anorexia. I do worry about my son now that he is a teen and just want him to be happy with his body. My mum sometimes makes comments in front of him too which I find unhelpful.

He is a confident, happy teenager and I want him to stay that way. I guess I want everything to be perfect for him but I am aware that I still carry around certain negative feelings regarding body image.

Having read that back, it doesnt sound very nice and makes me sound shallow. This is something I would never discuss with the kids and do not allow negative or perjorative words regarding size, whatever size. I just need to stop worrying that my kids are going to experience the same feelings I did and be happy. Which so far it looks like they are!

Right I'm going to stop rambling and worrying and go make ds a HUGE peanut butter sandwich!