HELP!!!What to do when your teenager eats worse than a toddler . I am afraid for his health.

[amberp1]

My 16 year old son is the pickiest eater alot of people have seen and I cannot understand it bewcause I cook like beast and his siblings are nothing like him. He has always had tons of different foods around him and won't touch anything. I am so worried about his health the way he eats.It is starchy food,pizza,pizza type foods, breads,potatoes,chips,popcorn pretzels,apples, milk,chicken bacon, snack type food, granola bars and a couple other things. That is it!  I always have to make sure to make him something he will like for dinner or I am afraid he won't eat and he doesn't care if we all are sick of pizza, and all but as long as he is happy who cares. I told him that until he starts buying the food I won't cook like that anymore.I can make a 5 course dinner and I will usually have to cook a completley different food for him. I always have catered to my kids but this is just ridiculous now. I am just afraid he won't eat if i don't do this. ANY ideas? PLEASE!!!!!! he wants to join the military whjen he is out of High School and I tell him he will end up starving if he doesn't start to eat better.. When he was a baby he wan't picky. I was a very picky eater growing up. I didn't eat meat except fish for 20 years. I stopped at the age of two and as soon as I got pregnant with him I craved the bloodiest staeks possible. Please any suggestions would be great!!!Thank you!!!!

[Granny1952]

I never catered to my kids. They ate what I cooked or went hungry till they did or the next meal. No snacks inbetween if they didn't eat. They eat just about everything. and so do their kids.

[Vikki77]

I would do what the previous poster said. If he gets hungry enough he will eat. But you have to stick to it. Don't give in because you know he's hungry. Trust me, he won't starve himself to death. Good luck.

[aidansmommy219]

 this!!! i couldn't imagine having to cook something completely seperate for ds. my dh is a super picky eater and there's some stuff i know he absolutely wont budge on but theres other things that i can "get away with" and he'll eat..and even he knows that i can only handle his version of foods for so long before he's got to deal with my version lol.if you don't want him to eat the foods he's eating, stop supplying them.. or make him cook for himself and even then monitor what he's making.

Quoting Granny1952:

I never catered to my kids. They ate what I cooked or went hungry till they did or the next meal. No snacks inbetween if they didn't eat. They eat just about everything. and so do their kids.

 

[rkoloms]

First, you need to remove the foods you don't want him to have. There is nothing wrong with pizza! Make a whole grain crust, and use lots of vegetables. We use the three bite rule: you must try three bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you fix yourself peanut butter and jelly on whole grain toast, with a kiwi or apple.
He didn't turn picky overnight, and it is time for tough love! It took me two years of hard work to get my spouse to be unpicky; his mother damaged him by allowing him to grow up picky.
Definitely use the opportunity to introduce new flavors/foods to your family, like curries, chili, Irish stew, peanut noodles, etc. Let me know if you need new recipes!

[rkoloms]

Here are a couple of "picky eater specials"

I serve this it over broccoli (and I make double the sauce).

Pasta with Finger-Licking Peanut Sauce
1/2 cup low or no sodium vegetable broth
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter (I use smooth)
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons chile paste with garlic (add to taste, it is pretty spicey)
4 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces uncooked whole wheat angel hair
1 pound firm tofu, drained and cubed (optional)
1 cup (2-inch) sliced green onions
1 cup shredded carrot
Combine first 8 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until smooth, stirring frequently (this can also be done in the microwave; use a tempered glass bowl, like pyrex, cook for 20 seconds, stir, repeat until smooth). Remove from heat. Cook pasta in boiling water 8 minutes, omitting salt and fat. Add tofu, onions, and carrot; drain. Place pasta mixture in a large bowl. Add peanut butter mixture; toss gently.

MEXICAN BEAN AND PASTA BAKE 

1 med. onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2" segment hot chili pepper, minced or 1/4 tsp. cayenne
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 qt. undrained canned diced tomatoes
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 c. uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni or other pasta broken into pieces
3/4 c. frozen or canned corn  

3/4 c. diced zucchini

3 c. cooked pink or black beans (or two cans)
1/2 c. sliced black olives
1 c. broken taco shells or tortilla chips
1 c. shredded Jack cheese or cheese of your choice

In a skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray (I use olive oil) sauté onion, garlic and hot pepper for about 3 minutes to soften. Add chili powder and cook briefly. Add tomatoes, oregano and cumin and bring to a boil. Add pasta, corn and zucchini and simmer 15 minutes until pasta is just tender. Stir in beans and olives. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Transfer bean mixture to a shallow 2 quart casserole. Top with taco shells or tortilla chips and cheese. Bake for 10 minutes to melt cheese. If casserole is assembled in advance and chilled, increase baking time to 20 minutes or until heated through. Top with sour cream at the table.

[MamaMandee]

What about having him cook his own meals? 

[WDWEditor]

Cook for the family. No catering. He'll get hungry. There's no reason to cook a seperate meal for anyone unless they have food allergies or other health issue. The military sure isn't going to feed him pizza on demand! JMHO.

[Dabberdoo]

Cook one meal.  He'll eat something eventually.  Honestly, I have no idea how you can force a teen to eat or not eat anything.  Only have foods in the house that you want him to eat.  Anything unhealthy he'll have to come up with on his own, and he just might do that.  But no way I would be a short order cook, not for a teen or a 2 year old.

[ambermario4ever]

well at least he eats more than my 14 year old brother. he only eats chicken nuggets, french fries, fried chicken, chips, pretzels, cookies and cake. and my mom just lets him. if he only wants pretzels for dinner then thats is all he has. At least your son does eat some healthy things.

[silct89]

That's exactly like my 9 yr old brother except its rolls and only the fake mashed potatoes instead of chips and pretzels.

Quoting ambermario4ever:

well at least he eats more than my 14 year old brother. he only eats chicken nuggets, french fries, fried chicken, chips, pretzels, cookies and cake. and my mom just lets him. if he only wants pretzels for dinner then thats is all he has. At least your son does eat some healthy things.

OP I say cook one meal, he wont starve himself.