What do you feed a 14 yo boy?

My 14 yo son has started having a ravenous appetite again. He's not that hungry during the day, but at night he turns into an eating machine. What can I offer him that will satisfy this ferocious beast?? He really likes protein, but is not that big on vegetables or fruit. He also has a pretty diverse palate, but doesn't like a lot of the normal "kid" foods. Looking forward to your suggestions.
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Replies

  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    ALOT.
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    Mine eats everything and then more.

    Not really sure what to suggest, except offering more than a normal human of his size might be able to eat.

    Example - mine will pour a whole box of cereal into a salad bowl, cover with milk, and eat it. All.
  • bpwparents
    bpwparents Posts: 359 Member
    My 13 yo looovves cut up apples with a side of peanut butter and it tends to tame the ravenous beast. At least for a little while!
  • Charlie003
    Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Just keep it healthy.
  • ShreddedTweet
    ShreddedTweet Posts: 1,326 Member
    The same thing you feed a 4 year old boy but lots more of it!
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Lock the frig! I'm just kidding, but I do remember those days! Does your son get a lot of exercise? Is he at a healthy weight? That would determine what I would buy. Ask him to make a big list of what he likes, then buy the healthiest stuff.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Feed him all the food.


    Can you pre-cook a bunch of pork or chicken to have in a container in the fridge? Something he can slap between a couple slices of bread in a hurry? How about chicken or a pork roast in the crockpot with bbq sauce? Then have a bunch of buns available.

    Sorry about your empty cupboards. :laugh:
  • Marksman21
    Marksman21 Posts: 126 Member
    Don't forget some water in all that grub! It'll curb appetite, and its good for ya, and if he doesn't like drinking it, drop some crystal light in to add flavor. (Only way I can stand water sometimes.)
  • ALOT.


    THIS!!! Mine is 14 and eats me out of house and home ...but luckily he eats pretty healthy
  • The souls of the slain.
  • sing4me4you
    sing4me4you Posts: 88 Member
    Good time to teach him how to cook scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, smoothies, etc.
  • Tacos.

    ETA: Bacon
  • Pipsg1rl
    Pipsg1rl Posts: 1,414 Member
    You say he eats at night?

    I know this isn't the most popular suggestion but you may want to talk to him about why he's starving himself at lunch time.

    My son says most of the food at school is terrible and when I purchase quality meats from the deli and easy to snack on foods like carrots and celery he is more willing to pack a lunch.

    He eats again when he gets home from school (he'll be 13 next month) and I try to make sure he's drinking enough water so that he's not confusing hunger with thirst.

    Try to make planned leftovers and tell him that he doesn't have to eat it the very next day, but the day after that. This way you know it's ready and easy for him and then you're controlling some of what he's devouring.

    Good luck :)
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    Good old pb&j.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Everything.

    Grilled Ham and Cheese sandwich or half a chicken (literally) would satisfy me at that age :P
  • My 13 yo eats everything in sight too... I just feed him tons of veggies with his dinner, and tell me he can have more of whatever he wants when he finishes all of his first round. My advice is keep your fingers and toes away from the machinery while in operation! :laugh:
  • poncho33
    poncho33 Posts: 1,511
    cereal and frozen pizzas... lots of them
  • oneIT
    oneIT Posts: 388 Member
    CHICKEN!
  • mdbs2004
    mdbs2004 Posts: 220 Member
    Goldfish and meal worms.
  • pawoodhull
    pawoodhull Posts: 1,759 Member
    My boys were both into sports at that age, so I kept protein power in the house, add milk, makes a great protein shake and satifies that hunger. I saw the other suggestions and they were all good too. Cheese & crackers, tuna salad, lots of popcorn, peanut butter, we had tons of this kind of stuff in the house. As long as it's easy to assemble, those boys were happy to make their own.
  • FammaMel
    FammaMel Posts: 293 Member
    My 15 year old son comes home from football everyday, eats supper (usually two helpings) and then about an hour or so later is 'starving'. I make sure I always have apples on hand. These seem to do the trick. I also make my own protein bars and give him those. He thinks the chocolate ones are brownies. :)

    They are bottomless pits so just keep healthy foods on hand and plenty of it.
  • mvl1014
    mvl1014 Posts: 531
    Having been a 14 year old boy:

    Anything tasty.

    My weight problem didn't happen until around 20. It's completely normal for teenagers to go through this. My wife would eat a whole pizza at dinner. She's 5'3 115lb. Her dad would let her order the biggest steak at a restaurant just to joke with people; and she'd finish it.

    I will say this, don't give him prepackaged crap if it grows out of the ground or has to be slaughtered, it's okay. Also, tell him he can have whatever he wants as long as he cooks it himself, otherwise he gets what you make.
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    cereal is fantastic - mine is 13 and eats loads. For supper he normally has porridge or weetabix or rounds of toast.
  • auria17
    auria17 Posts: 94 Member
    Hi,

    Lot's of protein rich foods, and good carbs, and if you can get him to, veggies & fruits. Make sure while he is going through the growing spurts that he gets extra rest. They have done a few studies on teen's and they really do need to sleep more than 8 hours a day during those years.
  • MsDandimite
    MsDandimite Posts: 52 Member
    ALOT.
    ALOT.png
    They are very filling. ;)

    I'm having the same atm. Teach him to bake good bread, that's what I'm trying to do. :) Egg sandwiches are cheap and filling. I also taught my son to make protein (whey) shakes with added greens and fruit for when he's ravenous. They seem to fill him up well.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    My mom tells this story:

    When she was growing up, her mom would make 2 chickens and put them on the table. One was for mom, dad and her. The other was for her older brother.
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    Make what you normally have for dinner but at least twice as much or more depending how tall he is - he may eat 4ths...lol Just make sure he gets plenty full at dinner and keep healthy snacks (not sugary) for PM snacks. - I have a 19yr old who is over 6ft and that is how I would feed him. lol :happy:
  • staciw
    staciw Posts: 58 Member
    I have three young boys. A friend of mine gave me a tip for the future that she currently uses. On Sunday night, she makes a big casserole (chicken and broccoli, lasagna, etc) and then puts it in the fridge just for him. During the week, when her 14 year old gets hungry, he goes in and spoons out what he wants. Keeps her from having to short order cook and keeps him full. I thought it was a great idea.
  • Mine eats everything and then more.

    Not really sure what to suggest, except offering more than a normal human of his size might be able to eat.

    Example - mine will pour a whole box of cereal into a salad bowl, cover with milk, and eat it. All.

    I have a couple of those in my house. Makes keeping the pantry stocked a little difficult! =P
  • allijoy13
    allijoy13 Posts: 66 Member
    Nuts are great. My kids enjoy lara bars - fruit and nuts together.