what do you feed your growing boys????

[mtemm]

my son just turned 8 and is a bottomless pit. he goes in spurts where he eats and eats and eats. I try to make sure most, if not all, the food is healthy, but it amazes me how much he is putting away lately. he's very lean, just had his dr appt and is 50lbs/bmi is 15%, and has had 2 growth spurts already this year.

he eats good meals, and on top of that eats yogurt, string cheese, lots of fruit, some crackers and such but mostly the dairy and fruit. I don't know what else to feed him at this point and am looking for ideas.

 

[mamacatnv]

From a Mom of a DS who is 6'4" 275#'s who is now 20 and in college. It is amazing how much I don't spend in groceries now that he does not live with us and even more amazing how wide his shoulders are

Foods with fiber that will hold him longer
whole grain pastas, grains ie. brown rice, barley added to soups etc
Add a good granola or kashi cereal to the yogurt
Peanut butter with the fruit
Snacks or mini meals every few hours - DS used to keep a baggie of the mini shredded wheat cereals in his backpack with some raisins and nuts. He could grab bites between class or at snack time when he was younger

 

[eeyoremum]

I have two boys (10 and 16 at the end of the month). They eat me out of house and home. I am not kidding my food bills are nuts.

My guys are meat eaters. That seems to hold them for longer periods of time too. Also carbs are good for that too. Usually my oldest son will eat a good dinner then make himself a toasted PB and Banana sandwich. It is very fustrating when they eat and an hour later they are looking for more.

 

[Pinkpony]

my son just turned 8 and is a bottomless pit. he goes in spurts where he eats and eats and eats. I try to make sure most, if not all, the food is healthy, but it amazes me how much he is putting away lately. he's very lean, just had his dr appt and is 50lbs/bmi is 15%, and has had 2 growth spurts already this year.

he eats good meals, and on top of that eats yogurt, string cheese, lots of fruit, some crackers and such but mostly the dairy and fruit. I don't know what else to feed him at this point and am looking for ideas.

Three boys here, all big eaters but super lean, and still are at 17, 17 and 25. I think what you're asking for is what to feed him between meals, right? Don't know how healthy it is, but Ramen noodles has been a huge help in that regard, or a bowl (or 2 or 3 ) of cereal. They'll usually eat an apple or pear to top it off too. But the fruit alone doesn't work for them.

I don't know where they put it all!

 

[mtemm]

thanks! yeah, its between meal stuff I'm asking for. I am just amazed because he'll eat dinner, a perfectly fine, healthy dinner, and an hour later he is looking for food! and I feel like pack him plenty for lunch/snack at school, he doesn't complain about it at all, but seeing him eat when he gets home makes me wonder if I need to add more to those as well.

love the ideas...keep 'em coming!

and I am truly scared of the teen years...my food bill is crazy already with 2 young boys (8 and almost 6) as it is.

 

[mtdevine615]

And what about the milk. When we had two at home they would go through a gallon a day. I'd be careful of the Ramen noodles they have a ton of salt in them. Like the others said whole grains seem to fill them up and last longer.

 

[Crystal0608]

My son is 8 and is just this year over the 50% on weight though off his meds he eats A LOT. To fill him up, he loves 3pks instant maple & brown sugar oatmeal, 3pcs french toast, and thick peanut butter sandwiches/wraps and eats all on almost a daily basis.

 

[Acklander]

A mom of 2 boys here - between meal snacks consist of cereal, those lean pockets, raman noodles, protein shakes, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and microwave popcorn. Also, gallons and gallons of milk

edited to add - Kraft Mac & Cheese

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I have DS15 and DS8. I buy 4 gallons of milk at a time.

 

[Robinrs]

My vacuum cleaner son is 17, eats what won't run away from him...

He made a joke about it just today, how I used to call him my "cheap date". Chicken nuggets and water... BOY those days are GONE!!

He wasn't much of a meat eater until recently, now, like his Dad, he craves steak and fish. Loves rice and potatoes, veggies can be a chore but I can sneak those in and he actually LIKES broccoli. Can eat it 7 days a week.

He is a clementine FANATIC, can go thru a box in 2 days, loves all citrus fruits, grapes and raisins. He's not much of a sweets eater but does like some things, not like his Mama who LIVES for chocolate.

No milk, he's lactose intolerant. Likes Lactaid but doesn't drink it regularly.

He's extremely healthy, no cavities, no colds, no issues. I wish I taught ME how to eat!!

 

[Momvic5]

Another mom of two bottomless pits (however - my very lean 10yr old daughter hasn't been eating like a little bird lately either). It seems like all day long, someone is the pantry looking for something. I have just learned to stock up on popcorn, nuts, string cheese, crackers, cereal, whole fruit, and dried fruit. All three of mine love bean and cheese tortillas, and they are so easy to make and heat in the microwave. They would eat this everyday if I let them. Ramen is another favorite, but I hate feeding them that regularly (the sodium content is very high). My 8yr old loves shaved ice with fruit juice...I have a small snow cone machine that lately just sits on the counter..it is safe enough for him to use on his own.

Good luck!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

2 boys, 10 and 13 (in 2 weeks). The 10 yr old barely eats. The 13 yr old has become a very healthy eater except when he is going through a growth spurt. When he is in the middle of a growth spurt, anything not nailed down is a possible target...

 

[canadianjovigirl]

Make a huge batch of chicken fried rice that he can heat up...healthy and has lots of veggies etc. My son eats a huge bowl full for his snack and he is 12..............better than junk food but the grocery bill sucks........

 

[PatsGirl]

My son always snacked on bowls of cereal (cheerios or another low-sugar kind), instant oatmeal, popcorn, and frozen pizza (rectangle style). How he managed to eat this an hour before AND an hour after a very balanced dinner always amazed me! And he remains thin.

DD on the other hand has always had to be more careful what she puts in her mouth (like me I guess). I feel bad for her because she really does try to eat healthy snacks and regulate her meals but hasn't lost that pre-teen belly and will now be 13 next week She limits her snacks to popcorn, cheese crackers, fruit and the occasional dish of low-fat ice cream.

We talk often about her being more active but her preferences are arts and crafts and academics...doesn't have much interest in sports or other high energy activities.

 

[DMickey28]

This thread is scaring me. My DS is only 3 and another on the way. I might have to get a part-time job in the later years just to pay the grocery bill!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

This thread is scaring me. My DS is only 3 and another on the way. I might have to get a part-time job in the later years just to pay the grocery bill!!

My wife and I have just learned to eat less.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

This thread is scaring me. My DS is only 3 and another on the way. I might have to get a part-time job in the later years just to pay the grocery bill!!

As a mother to 4 boys start saving now. And find some good hiding places.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Buy a bag of peas, open them and dump the contents. Stash all your personal chocolate in said bag, place in the way back of the freezer. It's the only way I get to keep anything around here!!!

But yeah, 3 boys here and a very tall girl. All the kids are going through growth spurts at the moment so I fill them up with just about anything. Peanut butter, fruit, toast, cereal, sushi (I buy smoked Salmon and rice and roll it in nori). etc

make sure you pack a good size snack for school and be sure he's eating all his lunch. You would be amazed at how much food it thrown away at school and then they come home and gorge.

 

[lattemomof3]

It's crazy how much kids can put away and stay so lean, isn't it?! I wish I had that problem. One thing that keeps my kids full for quite a while is a protein smoothie. A scoop of protein powder (vanilla or chocolate), banana, frozen fruit like strawberries, some milk, a bit of yogurt (I buy it in the tub-much cheaper), and a spoon of peanut butter whirled in the magic bullet (or blender). The mix of protein, carbs and good fat from the peanut butter really holds them over.

 

[marcyinPA]

I've got an almost 15 year old and an almost 11 year old. They don't eat a lot at a time, but they eat often. I wouldn't say that my teen can "pack it away"...but he does eat more than my DH most of the time! He needs smallish frequent snacks though. My oldest is about 120 lbs and 5'8" give or take (waist size 29...needs a belt...length 32 but really getting too short). My youngest is shorter and stocky, but not fat. He's the one I really worry about. He's not going to be tall, and if he's not careful, he will end up being "beefy". He has that kind of build.

Yogurt, fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts, peanut butter, popcorn, pretzels, granola bars, cereal, baby carrots with ranch dressing....these are all things I keep on hand that my kids will snack on. I don't keep a lot of "junk" in the house (the good chocolate is hidden...)