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Help!! parents going to make me eat 700 calorie lunch!!
So it's almost 12 now, and I just found out my parents made lasagna for lunch. We have it like once a month, and it's pure horror. It's yummy, but they use so much cheese (they dont believe in using low fat cheese), pasta, cream sauce, beef and tomato sauce, not to mention the cream of mushroom soup that comes along with it, thats I calculated each serving come up to around 700 calories! Theres no way im not allowed to not eat their food, because im not allowed and dont know how to cook. And their meals are always sooo unhealthy and fattening!! Then when I try and reduce my portions so that I dont eat too many calories, they scold me and force me to est. They will scoop out a hugeee portion and wont allow me to get up until I finish. And when I try and leave some cheese or pasta, they'll make me finish it or they will scold or punish me. I really dont know what to do! Every day, im eating like 600 more calories than I should, and because I have school and all, I come back really late so I dont have time to exercise. And on the days I do, they always whisper to each other about me over exercising and being 'anorexic' or whatever , even though im perfectly normal! Please help me!!!
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Maybe you do have a problem. You're freaking out over eating lasagna once a month. It's no big deal. Enjoy a nice meal.
What you should do is take as much food is a serving, and cut it in half. America's serving size is way bigger than its supposed to be. That helps me alot too.
whoops. Just read clearer. Tell your parents you want to put your own food on your own plate. If they don't allow it, then when you had half, tell them you don't want anymore; That your full. If they try and force you tell them your going to be sick if you eat anymore. Its not fair for them to do that. You can also save the rest for the next days lunch.
That's really unfair of your parents. :[
But just to be clear, you can still lose weight if you eat big meals... I typically eat only twice a day because of my absolutely insane schedule, and I each meal is almost 800 calories. I'm toning up nicely on this (not losing any weight, but there's a noticeable difference in my shoulders, arms, abs, and legs in the mirror.)
Original Post by lizbluetongue:
Haha sorry I didnt make it clear, but we eat super fattening, unhealthy food every day e.g. Lots of white rice, oily greasy food nd stuff. Just yesterday, I was forced to eat ice cream after a 650 calorie lunch plus a pudding. It's the kind of thing where if I dont, they will scold me. Yeah so im freaking out cause ive been eating super unhealthily, especially the past week.
Worrying about one 700 calorie meal is not a healthy sign. Most adults eat that for dinner every night with no worries at all. Last night, we had roast chicken and all the trimmings, with apple crumble and custard to follow ~ 900-1,000 calories, and I enjoyed every bit of it! This is normal life. you also mention in another thread that by 'really unhealthy foods' you actually mean milk and cheese - exacvtly the things a growing 14 year old child SHOULD be eating to help build healthy bones, etc. I think it's your attitude that may be a little off here.
BTW: What amount of calories do you mean when you say you 'have' to eat 600 calories more than you 'should?' A normal, active 14 year old eats anything from 2,000-3,000 without thinking about it.
OR you could eat half of it and say you wernt that hungry and will have it later cus it's hot and summer so you don't have a big appitite.
Just workout harder to burn it off? I can burn off 700 calories in 1h 30 min so I see why you shouldn't be able to.
I'm thinking the outrage is just a little too outrageous -- are you quite slim? Do you generally not eat all that many calories (as compared to other teens -- so do you eat less than 2000+ calories on a regular basis)? have you tried to cut out or severely restrict certain food groups from your diet?
It would be a rare occurrence for parents to really want their child to eat poorly; however, if said child is underweight, or under-eating, then yes, I could see parents making the child eat more and perhaps less healthy choices.
You are 14, 5' tall -- what do you weigh? 86-119lb? That's the lowest 'healthy' to highest 'healthy' weight for your age. Given your outrage and your previous posts about your parents concern, I'd guess you were under 90lbs. And you exercise 4-6 times per week -- you probably need the calories.
How old are you? Can you cut back on breakfast or dinner?
How do they punish you if you don't eat all the food on your plate?
ETA: Ah, I see the coach's reply. Yes, at your age and weight, even a daily 700 calorie meal is not going to hurt you on a maintenance level. 3 meals that size is still 'only' 2100 calories, and I'm guessing you are also pretty active.
I'm surprised so many people are giving the OP tips on how to counteract her parents' desire to have her eat more, without knowing her stats.
Sweetie, have you tried talking to your parents? Ask them is you can have half for lunch and half for dinner. And yes 700 calories is a lot, but what else are you eating throughout the day. Have lower calorie foods for breakfast and snacks to compensate for the higher calorie meals. How many calories are you supposed to be eating in a day? Add the lasagna first in your calorie count and then work from there.
And again, as a mom I would prefer that my 3 daughters talk to me rather than be upset all the time.
Original Post by batbriann:
Sweetie, have you tried talking to your parents? Ask them is you can have half for lunch and half for dinner. And yes 700 calories is a lot, but what else are you eating throughout the day. Have lower calorie foods for breakfast and snacks to compensate for the higher calorie meals. How many calories are you supposed to be eating in a day? Add the lasagna first in your calorie count and then work from there.
And again, as a mom I would prefer that my 3 daughters talk to me rather than be upset all the time.
I agree with the communication part, but split the meal in half? seriously? 350 calories for lunch anbd 350 for dinner? My exceptionally normal 11 year old eats more than that, and I'm very glad about it too. 700 calories is not a lot for a growing teenager by any means.
This thread is really starting to worry me...
Teens need 2,000-3,000 calories a day generally. Where is all this halving it advice coming from (I don't just mean you, batbriann, several others have mentioned that too)?
I'm willing to bet this child is either a healthy weight or underweight, and NEEDS to eat 700 calories, and heck yes, with the full fat milk and cheese too.
C'mon, people - they want her to share a lasgna once a month - they're not asking her to demolish a stuffed crust peperoni pizza everyday by herself...
700 calories/meal for a teen isn't so much (especially if only once a month).
To do half at lunch and half at dinner would mean that she would need 800 calories for breakfast and snacks just to meet the 1500 cal minimum requirement for a sedentary teen trying to lose weight. Since she hasn't shared her stats, I would be very uneasy about assuming that she is trying to lose weight.
Lets say your active and need about 2500 calories a day, yes?
Now lets go and set your meals at 700 calories each.
With 3 meals, that's 2100.
Now you can also have two 200 calorie snacks.
Yay! :)
~~~
But seriously, if my mom made me lasagna I would probably eat half of the WHOLE THING, not half a serving haha.
It sounds like your parents are very concerned about you. Can you ask them what their concerns are? And don't argue with them. Really listen to them.
I suspect they think you are too thin and are trying to "fatten you up" with lasagna and ice cream. That's not even a healthy way to gain weight, but they may just be doing what they think is best.
Maybe they could use some education on nutrition. Many people- even very educated people- don't know much about nutrition. It could be that you could get them to agree to pay for the caloriecount service where a registered dietician will analyze both their food intake and yours! They might feel better if they know you are eating a healthy diet. It may help them stop pressuring you to eat fatty foods.
Good luck!
Make them understand what? That you are living on a starvation amount of food, and they are wrong to be concerned about you as their child?
If my child was eating 700 calories a day, you can bet I'd stop them doing this:
"dance jazz 3 time a week play volleyball twice a week and gym the rest of the time (volleyball and jazz are on the same day)"
Reason: Removed quote containing deleted post.
....700 calories for lunch is alot for one meal. shes trying to loose weight and be healthier? whats wrong with that? anyone would be having a hard time if you are being served 700+ lunch/dinner/breakfasts. doesn't equal ED, or that shes starving herself. sheesh.
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