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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

People always went on about teenage boys and food..... only NOW do I get it

130 replies

DrNick · 05/02/2014 18:16

in the last six months suddenly.... I am doing two Tesco orders a week. I just cannot keep up with it. Previous portion sizes look like dolls house sizes.

they never stop!

OP posts:
Hassled · 06/02/2014 20:35

When one of your teenage boys leaves home you'll find yourself unable to reduce your shopping/catering quantities for months and bloody months. You'll keep buying the ridiculous quantities of bread and cereal and then gaze wistfully at it. Then you'll adapt. Then they'll come home for a weekend and there won't be enough bread.

mathanxiety · 06/02/2014 20:38

Yes -- that's what happened the first autumn DS was away at university. I couldn't understand the full fridge. It didn't take me as long the second or third years, but I still look at the fist sized portion of meat I can use for two days' dinner for me and the two youngest DDs and gasp at how little we seem to eat. DS would demolish the entire chili I made last night in five minutes and go back looking for more. We are having the leftovers tonight.

IamInvisible · 06/02/2014 20:45

My boys look at my dinner and ask "is that all you're having mum?" It's a perfectly normal sized meal, but compared to theirs it's tiny. Then they go back for the snacks, which is usually toast, crumpets, bagels etc.

Tonight DH was cooking dinner because I am ill and DS1 came in and made a protein shake. DH said "dinner will only be 10 minutes!" DS1 said "I can't wait that long!"Hmm

They are both like bean poles. I wish I could eat all day long and not put on a pound!

WildThong · 06/02/2014 20:57

It's hollow leg syndrome! I just noticed this week that the school trousers bought in August (with growing room) are just a little short already.

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 06/02/2014 21:05

The protein vs junky snack thing makes sense.

I think I just have hangups from lack of money, TBH. Protein is a valued and precious resource! It is not for snacks! Grin It took me about four years after I moved out of home to allow myself to eat two Bird's Eye "crispy chickens" in one meal Confused

Original poster
DrNick · 06/02/2014 21:14

aldi dont do online do they?

OP posts:
Honeysweet · 06/02/2014 21:45

Oh yes. Time for the cereal, rice, bread and pasta food. And larger saucepans.

flow4 · 06/02/2014 21:48

Sadly not. Not yet!

singaporefling · 06/02/2014 21:57

We have 3 DS, youngest 15 still at home, 'flings' himself in desperation on the couch 'starving to death' when he comes in from school. He usually has two poached eggs/3 toasts/beans/yogurt and whatever's lying around. This usually keeps him going till dinner an hour later Grin and then all he has to do is 'survive' till his toastd teacake/cereal/more yogurt before bedtime... Older DS's just come home and 'steal' huuuge quantities of whatever's around... Bless

Nicole1976 · 06/02/2014 22:07

This is so true, my 13 year old is unable to look at a piece of food without eating it and now weighs more than his 15 year old brother

bigTillyMint · 07/02/2014 07:26

DS just inhales food - his plate is finished before the rest of us have barely started. He is 12, but is 5'8" and very broad and does a lot of exercise when it's not raining so much
We have to encourage him to be a bit sensible as he would binge otherwise!

Dr Nick where did you read that Y10 is the main year of growth? DS has grown at least 6" in the last 9mths and is still growing - he will be a giant if he carries on at this rate!

lollylaughs · 07/02/2014 07:53

Its Friday today, and so far this week we have gone through.... wait for it.... 1.8kg's of cheese!! I only one teen in the house Shock. If there is no cheese in the fridge, there is never any food in the house........ We use a loaf a day and 3l of milk! He is as skinny as they come so no, no idea where it all goes....

wilbur · 07/02/2014 11:50

Stayclassy - to be fair, the 12 roasties was a one off as we rarely do a roast dinner and it was the first time we'd had roast beef in over 2 years and we all overate. Grin I think it's fine to pig out on occasion. Mostly ds1 is fuelled by pasta, rice & soup, thankfully he's not a big meat eater otherwise I'd never be able to afford to feed him.

yourlittlesecret · 07/02/2014 12:51

Based on my observation of two giants DSs and their friends I would agree that year 10 is often the main year of growth, but actually neither of mine followed that pattern.
DS1 was 6' before he started secondary school. He is now 18 and has grown only another 2" since then. He is past the inhaling food stage but struggles to keep his weight above 10 stone.
DS2 is in year 11 and has done all his growing this last year, now also 6'2". He is more prone to weight gain and is aware that he can't funnel food down as much as he wants. The two of them are a good illustration of how different people the same height can eat the same and yet weigh vastly different.

bigTillyMint · 07/02/2014 13:53

Peanut butter is the main-stay for my DC (and DH) - they go through a supersize jar a week! And hot chocolate disappears rapidly.

HeadFullofSteam · 07/02/2014 17:30

My ds' are 12 and 14 and literally do nothing but eat. They can have a big tea and will still be starving about an hour later. Whilst they used to be happy with say milk and cookies or toast for supper, what they actually want now is what I consider a full meal!

DS1 has 1, 2 or possibly even 3 mates staying over tonight. I will have to go to the supermarket shortly to spend about £3000 on snacks, drinks and stuff for breakfast. (not complaining really, love it when house is full of lovely teen boys, all of whom are taller than me)

Mandy2003 · 07/02/2014 17:43

DS is 14.5 and does not eat much. He's growing but very slowly. GP says he's normal. What sonerous describes for 1 day would last DS for 3 days.

SonorousBip · 08/02/2014 22:08

Send him round, Mandy, and I will do a swap!

Ds had an away match this morning. He had a bacon sandwich at home (made by indulgent DH!), lasagna and garlic bread at the away hosts (fancy! It's a cheap burger in a bun after a home match!) came home and had a big plate of ravioli with butter and cream, all before 2pm.

That's like Christmas eating for me!

(Large lamb steak, roasted veg, couscous w/chickpeas and steamed lemon pudding w/custard for supper).

You can see his ribs!

CouthyMow · 08/02/2014 22:35

My 5ft3, 11yo is like this. He uses my mixing bowl for his breakfast cereal! Confused

CouthyMow · 08/02/2014 22:45

What amazes me is that because he is doing far more exercise than a year ago, he's eating twice as much yet losing weight! (He was a bit, erm, portly, before, now he's at beanpole status. If he grows any more, he's going to fall through a drain, he'll be so skinny!)

Even 10yo DS2 has finally discovered his appetite (he always ate like a sparrow until 3 months ago). He's just grown 2 inches, in just 6 weeks, and is now 5ft1...

Thank god DS3 is 7 years younger!!!

WorrySighWorrySigh · 09/02/2014 00:48

Claybury - I feel your pain. DS wont each cheese. None of mine will eat stews or casseroles which can be stretched. They need to be able to see what they are eating.

When I read these threads I am always reminded of the 'home economy' threads where posters happily boast of feeding themselves and their 2 children aged 2 and 4 for for three meals using one roast chicken. When I read those I always laugh and think of my family where DH budgets for 1.5 - 2 roast chickens for our family of 5 for Sunday dinner.

CouthyMow · 09/02/2014 02:52

Grin Leftovers?! What are leftovers?!

I get all snarky about those threads too - of course you can buy less food if you are feeding two toddlers than if you are feeding the equivalent of 4 adults plus a toddler, then add on three times as much again as three of those adult portions are for hungry, growing teens / pretend who are hitting puberty early...

DS2 is just over 10yo, 5ft1, and growing quickly. DS1 is coming up for 12yo, 5ft3, and also growing quickly. DD is almost 16, 5ft8, and still bloody growing (her dad is 6ft5...), and eats cheese like it's air...

(DD came in, was there for two hours, and managed to eat three fajitas overfilled with chicken, peppers, lettuce and salsa, AND half a HUGE block of cheese...)

SecretWitch · 09/02/2014 03:04

Scariest statement I've ever heard from ds " Mum three of my friends are coming home with me after school. Think they can stay for dinner?"

The amount of food teenage people can eat is toe curling. My ds is often up at midnight making ready to eat Mac and cheese, as apparently the distance until breakfast at 7am is not to be endured.

bigTillyMint · 09/02/2014 07:17

Couthy, your DD is 16 and still growing? There is hope for my DD - she is 14 and hasn't grown at all in a year!

crazykat · 09/02/2014 08:02

My ds1 has always been a bottomless pit and he's only just turned 5. I'm now dreading him being a teen.

He's had two sandwiches (four slices without the crust) a big handful of grapes, a yogurt, banana and cheese for lunch at around 1pm and by 3pm he's starving and nicking fruit. Then he'll have as much spaghetti as us for dinner at 5 and by 6 he's hungry again! It's definitely hunger as I always tell him to have a drink first. He's also really skinny just like DH - not that I'm jealous, oh no Wink