[dad787]

My friend has 3 boys, 2 that are about 265 pounds each, both 6'2". They are very lazy and inactive, though one goes to weight training for his football team each school day, they are apparently about 70-90 pounds overweight. The food bill for them borders $1000/month and consists of (partial from store receipt) Ramen noodles, french fries, corn dogs, bacon, breakfast sandwiches, pizza, coffee, coffeemate, dressing, Sunny Delight, milk, bananas, white bread, avocados, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, Cinnabon cereal, Oreos, Pancakes, Goldfish crackers, and they refuse to eat most greens like broccoli, salad, spinich. They have a very healthy brother who is about 130-140 pounds and eats little. The mom, my friend, is about 110 pounds, and a nurse that works cardiology. Suggestions for her?

[Nicks_Nose]

I raised two sons and it was always difficult to get them to eat greens of any kind. I tend to portion and freeze spinach into tbsp portions, finely chopped and throw them into soups I make like chicken vegetable or chicken noodle.

The grocery list shows where much of the fault is.....buying all of the foods that contribute to the obesity. My sons love pancakes so I put fresh berries into them or bananas. Tacos are a good option, provided the toppings put on it are portioned properly with more vegetables in them than dairy products like sour cream and cheese. Dairy products are also available in less fat but watch for sodium and sugar levels. Yogurt is a popular option and Greek Yogurt specifically, also contains protein. Omelets are a good way to put veggies into the meals. Pizza is a great option if they put veggies into the meat and cheese. The national food guide is a good start.

It's going to be difficult to train the kids to eat right at this age. They should have been taught this long ago. I see a lot of convenience foods on the list. While these foods save preparation time, they are often toxic due to high levels of salt and fat and chemical additives. Mom has to start cooking for her kids and she has to teach them how to cook for themselves. So many parents just buy their kids what they want because it's easier. Also, where is her husband? What is his role in all of this?

[unaluna]

she could take them to weight watchers, or just sign them up online. maybe using an app to make better food choices, a menu and a grocery list, would inspire them?

[nicolmiller]

Thanks unhappyguy!
I totally agree with your answer, It's going to be difficult to train the kids to eat right at this age.

[reliableopinion]

Many of us ignore the fact that people are so stressed out that they do not want to deal with anything else. May be she is a single mom,just trying to keep a roof on top of the kids head. How many hours is she working a day?Lack of stimulation is certainly making the older ones binge.