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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Do any teens really eat this much?

33 replies

stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:09

Having some concerns re my 14 year old dd because I don't think she is eating enough. When I check nhs website it said that teens should be eating about 2,300 calories per day. Do other teens get to that day to day? My dd is reaching about half that (hence the concern)

OP posts:
NewNovember · 12/04/2023 19:10

Not unless sporty boys no.

Magaluf · 12/04/2023 19:11

Well she might not need that much but half that sounds extremely low. Is she trying to lose weight?

carriedout · 12/04/2023 19:14

Yes, 2,300 is easily reached. It is only a bit above an adult's recommended intake.

Half that is very concerning.

lljkk · 12/04/2023 19:16

How underweight does she look, OP?
Are you including fluids in her calorie intake?

CindersAgain · 12/04/2023 19:18

If she is slight, slim and not that tall and not that active she might not need anything like as much as that.

Littlebluebird123 · 12/04/2023 19:20

Mine go through phases.
Sometimes it's constant eating, sometimes they are struggling to eat both lunch and dinner. Depends on their growth spurts and hormones I think.
Mine are both a healthy size, plenty of energy etc.

Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:23

She doesn't look underweight as such but yes, she is very slim. I am worried, have a GP appointment soon. She's never been a big eater but is definitely having less at the moment - she has very little if anything for breakfast. Lunch will be a ham and cheese roll, crisps and fruit and evening meal chicken goujons with some chips and veg and a snack in the evening. She says it's enough for her but I feel like she needs more

OP posts:
RandomMess · 12/04/2023 19:23

How tall is she and how much does she exercise?

Sedentary lifestyle and 5' she would probably be ok.

Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:25

She is tall...5 8

OP posts:
Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:25

Doesn't exercise much - walking each day but not massively long walks

OP posts:
lljkk · 12/04/2023 19:49

How much does she weigh?
Would she mind you knowing what she weighs.

DD was (is) anorexic, under my nose. It's like I wanted to not see what was flipping obvious. Anorexics are devious & hide their obsession.

Anorexics are deeply unhappy, is a huge & common difference between the incidentally skinny (who can be very relaxed about everything including food) & the self-starvers. Anorexics can radiate unhappiness even though they do a lot of cheerful tone masking.

Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:50

Don't know how much she weighs (we don't have scales in the house). She wouldn't mind me knowing though I don't think

OP posts:
Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 19:52

@lljkk sorry to hear about your dd. Does what my dd typically eat sound like the amount your dd would consume? I'm just trying to get perspective.

OP posts:
carriedout · 12/04/2023 19:53

Have you talked to her about healthy eating? What would she do if you just offered more food that she enjoys?

Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 12/04/2023 20:00

Yes, we spoke today about eating more but eating healthily and she said she'd like to do that. I've found that if I just have food out in bowls and no pressure she'll have more. She does want to be 'thin and toned' she's told me that so I'm going to help her to do that with the right foods to help her fuel up for exercise

OP posts:
lljkk · 12/04/2023 21:16

I imagine every annie is unique. On top of that, some eat well in front of you then go sick it up...

My anorexic DD is obsessed with only eating salads & vegetables & lean protein, she will have a sliver of something fatty but other than salad, the portions are just weirdly small, there's no pleasure at all in how she eats. It's good if yours really does skip breakfast, isn't bothered. DD is frantic if she might miss a meal, she eats sparingly but very regularly. Like breakfast needs to be within 15 minutes of waking up (2 eggs and spinach). DD barely has any milk or grain products & would have a meltdown at thought of a sandwich, much less one with margarine spread on it; she tried to tell me she was merely orthorexic, but it's calorie restriction, too.

She obsessively watched My 600 lb life one summer, at her thinnest. So that's how stupid I was, not realising that her keenness to watch that was manifestation of self-delusion and internal validation of/justification for her mental illness.

BagpussSaggyOldClothCat · 15/04/2023 17:27

Hi op. Mum of an anorexic dd here. There are definitely some red flags here. The gp appointment is a good start. Hopefully you've got a good gp who will take your concerns seriously. If you feel brushed off please try another gp.

She's definitely not eating enough. She really needs breakfast as it sounds like she's going a long period with no food from dinner until lunch. Could she have read something about intermittent fasting? Could you check her phone to see if she's got any diet apps like my fitness pal?

Insist on 3 meals and 3 snacks per day plus plenty of fluid. I'm afraid you have to get a bit bossy. The alternative is that she starts to lose weight quickly and her brain begins to suffer - once she's at that stage it can be a battle as they can become very mentally ill and logic and reasoning go out the window.

JJ456 · 15/04/2023 17:36

A 5’8 teen should definitely be eating more than ~1,150 calories a day, which is starvation. At least 1800 is needed to maintain physical and mental functioning and prevent malnourishment, I wouldn’t trust anyone that says otherwise. What do you think is stopping her getting enough food? Do you cook main meals/pack lunch? Between just lunch and dinner there should be more than that.

Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 15/04/2023 21:13

@JJ456 I think below 600 ish calories is starvation but I get your point. I am worried and have a dr appointment booked. She's never had a big appetite but looks like there's more to it this time. Hopefully we can get this sorted soon

OP posts:
Original poster
stonkytonk11 · 15/04/2023 21:15

@JJ456 yes I cook main meals - she had a decent sized bowl of spaghetti meatballs with Parmesan earlier and a roll with chicken and bacon at lunch and two eggs with a crumpet this morning - all sounds fine until you add up the calories and it doesn't come to that much! Snacks have been grapes, cucumber, carrot and a small chocolate bar

OP posts:
JJ456 · 16/04/2023 13:12

You’re right to worry @stonkytonk11 but you’re doing the right thing for her. I hope that you can work together on it.

brooksidebackside · 16/04/2023 13:16

she has very little if anything for breakfast. Lunch will be a ham and cheese roll, crisps and fruit and evening meal chicken goujons with some chips and veg and a snack in the evening.

she had a decent sized bowl of spaghetti meatballs with Parmesan earlier and a roll with chicken and bacon at lunch and two eggs with a crumpet this morning

This is quite normal isn't it?

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/04/2023 13:23

brooksidebackside · 16/04/2023 13:16

she has very little if anything for breakfast. Lunch will be a ham and cheese roll, crisps and fruit and evening meal chicken goujons with some chips and veg and a snack in the evening.

she had a decent sized bowl of spaghetti meatballs with Parmesan earlier and a roll with chicken and bacon at lunch and two eggs with a crumpet this morning

This is quite normal isn't it?

I’m assuming the portions are v small if the OP is worried.

brooksidebackside · 16/04/2023 13:25

I’m assuming the portions are v small if the OP is worried.

A decent size isn't a small portion.

A roll with filling is a normal portion

A crumpet and couple of eggs is a normal portion.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 16/04/2023 13:33

DS(14) probably eats around 2000+ cals a day. He's only a bit sporty, but also very tall. Slim though.