How Do I Get My Son to Eat Right

I think that the best things that you can do is only have healthy food in the house, make him try new foods that he thinks he doesn't like (because maybe he does), have him help you cook and grocery shop, look up reciepes together online that he thinks he may like, and don't buy him fast food and junk food unless it's a treat. Let him know what you expect from him before hand and if he follows through maybe he will earn a privledge or reward. Make sone type of reward system for his healthy eating. Be tough... good luck!!

There are some trends in the food he likes. Greasy or carbs seem to be the main ones. There are ways of incorporating some of his food choices into healthier meals. I am so tempted to say if he's 11 perhaps he could take an interest in figuring out what else he could eat (that would be good for him). Perhaps he'd like to get in the kitchen. Looks like he'd eat salads. What about seasoning the burger and doing a taco salad? No mention of fruit....? No other meats? What about a turkey burger? Fruit pizza? Lots of veggies can go on a pizza! Or ham and pineapple! Hmmm, I'm sure I could make a list but maybe the idea is to get him going thinking this way and put it to him as a challenge to find as many healthy things as he can to try. Perhaps he could prepare something for the family. What would happen if he went to the grocery store with you to work on this challenge? He may rise to the occasion!

Try letting your son explore different foods. Slip vegies in things that he likes to eat. Also try cook home made things like chinese food you can get things from the grocery store believe me i do it all the time and they wont even know the differnce. The other night for my kids i made chicken steaks baked potatoes and brocolli and chesse. bake or broil potatoe cut down middle put brocolli and chesse on top with a little butter, salt & pepper to taste. With the steak i used Mrs Dash seasoning ( garlic and herb oinion and herb, original blend and italian ) ,(i dont use salt) and adobo seasonig. Clean and season meat roll in bread crumbs or plain flour and fry in corn oil(other atl. bake in oven). Serve with potatoe on side and steak sauce. i have tons of recipes i try with the kids and they love them not realizing i just gave them vegies. let me know if you want other recipes. Email me back and let me know if it works.

I agree with whomever talked about the movie, supersize me. Sit down and have a movie night, and pop it in!
I had to watch my 3 nephews and niece often, and I'm still amazed at what their mother lets them eat. but that's not my concern, but if I was to watch them for a week or longer, then I felt that having a go at their nutrition was fair.
GIVE HIM A CHOICE. not, "what do you want to eat?" choice. I don't know if it's possible for you to make dinner, and I know it can be hard if you're a full time mother. but if you can, have 2 menu plans in mind. present them to him. "you can either have broiled salmon, or blasalmic chicken, which one do you want?" these are the only 2 options, and you give him power of choice in the situation, but you still hold the control. he won't starve and he won't eat fatty or unhealthy food if it doesn't exist in the house.
if he's stubborn and says "neither" then say suit yourself, but if that's the case, I'm going to make so-and-so for myself then. if you get hungry, then feel free to have some. while making the dinner, have a bowl of veggies and dip out so if he happens to wander in the kitchen in search of something to eat, then there's something right there, and he doesn't have to put any effort into making it himself, so he will probably nibble on it.
so, get rid of all junk food in the house, or other unhealthy options. (mac and cheese isn't necessarily "junk food" but it's a quick and unhealthy meal for an 11 yr old to make for himself)
since you are a full time mother, and i'm unsure of your schedule, Make sure you stock up on food that's convieniant AND healthy. there shouldn't be substitutions. it is possible to get nutritious and delicious foods that are easy or quick to make. when you go shopping, whenever you pick something up off of the shelf, ask yourself, is this convieniant? is it healthy? don't get food solely on the convieniance factor.

After your son kicks the "addiction" from substances put in burgerking and subway foods, he will realize that he wants to eat healthy. eating healthy will become preferred, he will have more energy and more enthusiasm for life.

I always found if my kids help me cook it they'll eat it
I even got my very picky 5 year old to eat meatloaf that way
try to get him involved in cooking with u have him look up recipies on the internet and try them out
ultimatley though, a kid will never starve themselves they seem to manage to get what they need some how
FYI chocolate is very high in magnisium lol

L.,

It kills me to hear that he is athletic, but eats junk. As a PE/Health teacher I teach the kids that what they are putting in their bodies produces what comes out. If he is enjoying his sports tell him eating healthier will give him more energy and focus for the game. Burgers and such will begin to drag him down due to the sugar content within these foods. I also show my students "Super Size Me" the educational version, it is very informative and many of my students say they have stopped eating fast food. The main thing is to have him try different foods and for you to educate yourself about good and bad foods for the body. If you need specifics let me know!

A.

L.,

If your son is not overweight with these eating habits now, he will be as an adult when his metabolism slows down. Then changing a lifetime of habit is almost impossible. Take it from a hugely overweight carb junkie. This is not the direction he wants to go in.

Like any other area of his life, he has as much control over his eating habits as you are willing to give him. He cannot drive, so fast food is out unless YOU take him. He doesn't grocery shop for the family, so what is in the house and available is what YOU put there. It's gonna be a heck of a fight to get him to accept the changes, but he will over time, and he'll be healthier and stronger for it. I don't envy you. This ain't gonna go over easy. But it can be done. Good luck!

Morning L.,

Honestly the only way anyone will eat what they should be eating is if it is all that is available. Unfortunately, this wasn't nipped in the bud at an early age and now you have this dilemma. Although your son isn't overweight and is very active, that doesn't mean he is not malnourished. Without the proper nutrition, immune systems run down, anemia sets in, and all kinds of other negative effects can ensue.

I truly hope you can put your foot down and not allow those foods. He will get hungry enough that he will eat what you give him. And even if he doesn't eat in front of you...as long as you don't have junk in the house for a few weeks to get him set straight...he may sneak the nutritous food at night while your asleep so that he doesn't starve. Then his body will begin to get used to eating better and you will see that slowly he will do better.

I would definitely make it clear that snacks and eating out are treats and will only be given upon good behavior and eating properly. Good luck.

L.,
I would start making finishing his meal contingent on a right or a privledge that he wants. You can also try a little food management with him. Have him eat ten bites of a non preferred food in order for him to get the preferred food. I am a certified behavior analyst and work with several children who have feeding difficulties.