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Teenagers

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

15 year old son's poor diet - what to do?

2 replies

Mirrordoor · 03/08/2023 17:42

My son has always been a bit of a fussy eater and I'm completely fed up with it.

Our meals are quite boring because I try to stick to things I know he will eat. When I try something new, I accept that there is a chance he might not like it and he can have something else as long as he's tried it, which is fine.

He's having a growth spurt at the moment and has been asking for extra food after his meals, so I know he currently has a large appetite. However, now that it's the school holidays, I don't know what he is eating throughout the say. He has had McDonald's/takeaways around three times this week that I know of and probably loads more junk on top of that which I just don't know about. He went through a period of taking money to school and buying massive chocolate bars on the way home, so would then say he wasn't hungry at teatime, but I thought he'd stopped doing it. This week he's been out with friends quite often and then picked at his tea and claimed to be full. When I ask what he's been eating out he lies and tells me nothing. He'll also claim to have not eaten breakfast or lunch (even though we have a kitchen full of food) so he had no choice but to eat a load of junk an hour before tea and then not eat his tea.

I can't believe I'm still having so much hassle with him eating food but I think it's the lying which is really getting to me. I don't think he's eaten a single healthy meal this week - he's either gone to a friend's house and eaten junk or obviously filled up in some other way and made excuses not to eat his tea. What am I supposed to do?

OP posts:
tescocreditcard · 03/08/2023 17:46

Nothing you can do except offer and encourage healthy meals. If you do that, you've done your job as a parent. You can't force anyone to eat the healthy food you offer, that's on them.

MintJulia · 03/08/2023 18:10

I have a fussy 15yo so I make him the food he likes but from home

Burgers, but good quality from the butcher, served in wholemeal buns, with lots of fresh salad and reduced sugar ketchup

Wholemeal fajitas with freshly grilled chicken breast, fresh salad and a sauce made with spices and low-fat creme fraiche only.

Butcher's shop sausages with oven chips (ok, some junk) and broccoli/peas.

Butcher shop lamb steaks with honey & mustard glaze, and veggies

Home made pizza.

Then cut his pocket money! Tell him you are short this week and he'll have to eat at home.

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