I am mentoring a 15-year old boy whose diet sucks!?

Question

When Jason (not his name) was 10 I took him to see Lion King live at the Pantages in Hollywood. It was a "take a kid out" night in our Emerg. Response unit. We each took a kid. Jason loved it, and he never stopped dropping by my office. So, I took him on as a really great kid - Pre-teen Jesus I would call him. Also took on the whole family but focus on Jason. He doesn't eat vegetables or fruit. I buy chewable vitamins which he rarely takes. He gets sick frequently because of poor diet. Fast food - chicken nuggets, etc - fries and drink are his diet. Yesterday I substituted the fruit cup at McD's for fries. Told him I would get him fries when he finished the fruit. He tasted the apple slices like he had never had them before. He got through it and I got him a small fries.
Any of you out there have a suggestion on how to get him to find that fruit is great and veggies, if prepared well, are cool. Parents? Teenagers? What do you suggest I do next, how to approach.

Answer 1

If he's 15, he doesn't need chewable vitamins. Ask him if he'll take a regular pill to swallow. Maybe he doesn't like the taste of Flintstones.

Rather than taking him to eat at McDonald's, since it sounds like he already eats there daily, take him other places like Taco Bell. At least he'll get some lettuce & tomato on a taco or toastada, some fiber from beans, etc. You could go to a pizza place and get a supreme pizza, complete w/ all sorts of veggies. Even KFC woudl get him grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and cole slaw. A trip to an ice cream shop would give him fruit toppings, and a chance for some fiber.

Most kids will eat canned fruit; you may try canned fruit mixed w/ jello and chilled. Also try fruit smoothies, made w/ lowfat yogurt and fresh fruit.

As much as I believe diet effects one's overall health, I don't think you can be certain his health issues are due to his diet alone. He may be asthmatic and live w/ people who smoke. He may have sinus/nasal allergies, lives w/ a cat, and there is no $$ for Rx allergy meds... so allergic reactions turn into infections. I guess what I'm saying is, don't blame it all on his diet. For many kids, their food is the only ting they can control in thei r lives, so the last thing they want to do is give up that control to an adult. Even if they like that adult.

Best wishes!

Answer 2

If you could get him to cook some different foods that can help broaden his food choices. Start with scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast. Celery sticks, carrots, fresh vegetables with a healthy dip..they love to dip stuff. Make oatmeal from the box and add fruit to that. Bake chicken nuggets and make a dip for them. Freeze a banana with a stick in it.Take him to a salad bar and see if he can build a salad. Lots of things are possible.

Answer 3

Fruit is pretty easy to get a kid to eat. My teenagers love peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, etc. Even if you have to use things like fruit with cool whip - it is okay. It gets them eating the fruit - eventually they will discover that they do not need things like cool whip with it - because it is so sweet and tastee on its own.

The same for veggies. When my kids were small - I would make sauces or dips for their veggies so they would eat them. Now they love their veggies - and they don't need the sauces. Try cheese sauces on broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower. Salads with lots of dressing always seems to work. You can even order pizzas with good veggies on them - bell pepper, mushrooms, onions, etc. Introducing new foods like veggies can be hard - so it is okay if they are covered up with cheese and sauces - it gets them eating it - and then they will more than likely become more adventuresome to try alone. (I know all the sauces and dressings seem unhealthy - but what you are trying to do is introduce them to veggies - so that they will eventually find that they like them.)

I got my daughters friend to eat spinach by cooking it this way:

Italian Spinach
2 servings

1 small clove garlic
3 tablespoons oil oil
1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, cooked and squeezed dry
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. peeper
4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs beaten
2 slices bacon, fried, drained and crumbled

Saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat until golden brown. Add spinach, salt, peeper and mix until well blended. Spread mixture over bottom of the skillet. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Cook, turning frequently, until the mixture is well heated. Add eggs and continue to cook, turning spinach mixture frequently, until the eggs are firm but not dry. Add bacon. Stir until well mixed. Drain off excess oil. Turn mixture onto a serving platter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Serve this spinach with spaghetti and meat sauce - it is wonderful. I've found that most kids will like it if you can get them to try it.

This recipe is from John Gristanti - who has passed away but once owned and ran a wonderful Italian restaurant.

Good Luck!!!!

Answer 4

They have to be willing to change their diet. No use in bribing, once he finds out his shitty diet is making him sick, maybe he'll choose healthier alternatives.