how can I make my little brother eat healthy food?
theblondetrick
Posts: 192 Member
My brother is nearly 12 and he weighs 73 kilos,which is awful and I really want him to start eating healthy.
He plays basketball 3 times a week,so activity is not the problem.
The thing is,he only eats chicken and he sometimes eats pork or turkey,which is fine I guess,but he has to eat potatoes with meat,because otherwise,he won't eat anything for lunch at all.Also,his potatoes have to be fried,mashed or baked with oil,he won't eat boiled potatoes.For dinner and breakfast he usually has 2-3 pieces of bread with nutella or wieners,sometimes even donuts or sandwiches with butter and salami.
I wouldn't say that he eats a lot,but he won't eat vegetables and he doesn't eat various types of food and that's the main problem.The only healthy stuff he likes are soups and fruits.
What can I do to make him eat healthy?
I thought,if I made him eat healthy and completely cut out potatoes and nutella,he would eventually start eating healthy,he surely wouldn't want to starve,so he'd have to eat whatever there is to eat,but I don't have my mother's support(he's a mama's boy and she let's him eat whatever he wants),so I can't do that.
He plays basketball 3 times a week,so activity is not the problem.
The thing is,he only eats chicken and he sometimes eats pork or turkey,which is fine I guess,but he has to eat potatoes with meat,because otherwise,he won't eat anything for lunch at all.Also,his potatoes have to be fried,mashed or baked with oil,he won't eat boiled potatoes.For dinner and breakfast he usually has 2-3 pieces of bread with nutella or wieners,sometimes even donuts or sandwiches with butter and salami.
I wouldn't say that he eats a lot,but he won't eat vegetables and he doesn't eat various types of food and that's the main problem.The only healthy stuff he likes are soups and fruits.
What can I do to make him eat healthy?
I thought,if I made him eat healthy and completely cut out potatoes and nutella,he would eventually start eating healthy,he surely wouldn't want to starve,so he'd have to eat whatever there is to eat,but I don't have my mother's support(he's a mama's boy and she let's him eat whatever he wants),so I can't do that.
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Replies
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Honestly, it's not your responsibility to make your brother eat healthy... or make him do anything for that matter.
Plus he's 12, and still growing... for all you know, he could shoot up, be super tall and that 73 kilo's won't look so bad.
Edited to add: By trying to take away what he likes, and force him to eat healthy, you are only encouraging the behavior. Again, he's 12.. I'm sure he goes to friends houses and will eat junk there if he wants, or if he earns an allowance, go buy what he likes and hide it in his room to eat when your not watching.0 -
His eating habits are a result of indulging a picky eater all his life. Unfortunately 12 is a difficult age to change habits.0
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73 kilos is not bad if he keeps that weight ,but if keeps on eating like this,he will only be gaining weight.
And I do feel like I'm responsible,I mean I'm his older sister,I almost feel like I'm his second mom.
I know it sounds weird,but I think that anyone who has a brother who is a lot younger,feels the same.0 -
How tall is he? If he's say 5'8 then 73 kilos isn't bad. I'm a teacher at secondary school and I see the crap some kids eat and they still seem slim. Obviously healthy eating is better. Who does the cooking at home? If you only have healthy foods in the house and all meals are healthy then the only option he has for crap is on his way to and from school. If he's active then I'm sure a few treats would be ok at his age.
My brother was overweight as a teenager and when he was 19 he decided to change his habits, lost loads of weight and spent hours at the gym. He's 30 now and still has his good habits and looks great.0 -
73 kilos is not bad if he keeps that weight ,but if keeps on eating like this,he will only be gaining weight.
And I do feel like I'm responsible,I mean I'm his older sister,I almost feel like I'm his second mom.
I know it sounds weird,but I think that anyone who has a brother who is a lot younger,feels the same.
Not necessarily because again, he is still growing.. and calorie needs change depending on height.
Plus depending on how active he gets as he gets older, he could stay the same.
You also never said how tall he is.. which again, plays a part in determining calorie needs.0 -
He's like 5'4''. And again,it's not so much about weight loss,it's more about eating healthy,and the weight loss would happen eventually. As I said,I would make him eat healthy,by not having any junk food at home,but my mom keeps on buying it and letting him eat crap.
I tried talking to my mom quite a few times and she says I'm right,but she never does anything about it.
I thought you guys could tell me how I could make healthy food taste good for him or something,and not criticize me for wanting my brother to be healthy(how supportive of you).0 -
He's like 5'4''. And again,it's not so much about weight loss,it's more about eating healthy,and the weight loss would happen eventually. As I said,I would make him eat healthy,by not having any junk food at home,but my mom keeps on buying it and letting him eat crap.
I tried talking to my mom quite a few times and she says I'm right,but she never does anything about it.
I thought you guys could tell me how I could make healthy food taste good for him or something,and not criticize me for wanting my brother to be healthy(how supportive of you).
Its great you want him healthy, but also he is a kid. If I think back to what I ate growing up, it wasn't always the best food. But I ran around all day so I wasn't overweight or anything.
Maybe take some of his favorite food and prepare them in a healthier way. There isn't much you can do about your Mother bring junk food home, since it is her house. Just try and teach him healthier choices.
I wouldn't stress out so much, kids can eat stuff that grown ups would feel crappy about eating. Is his doctor worried about his health at all? Maybe if that is the case you can sit down with your brother and mother and figure something out.0 -
Who wasn't a chubby 12 year old that doesn't like to eat vegetables?
Also what's wrong with potatoes, soups, and fruits?
And for the love of all things sacred let the boy enjoy a bit of nutella now and then.0 -
You can't make him eat anything. Really doesn't sound all that abnormal or troublesome to me.0
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You don't want to him to eat healthy... You want to make him eat healthy.. as in force by taking away stuff he likes and only having what you want in the house.
As someone who works with teenagers(and serves them school lunch on occasion, so I know how picky they can be), unless they want to eat it, they won't.
Even with adults, unless they want to change.. they won't. imagine if your mom tried to force you to eat healthy and didn't allow junk.. what would you have done? Think of it that way.0 -
I can't do metric math. You people are silly...
I'm out.0
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