Look at your grandson to see if he is healthy. It has nothing to do with
the number of meals he eats, but whether he has the stamina to get
through the day's work and play. Is he fun to be with? Does he laugh at
your jokes? Do you laugh at his? Can he skate, run up a hill, get his
homework done and help with household tasks and still have the energy
necessary to watch a late night movie or go dancing with his friends?
Does he get through the season without constant colds?
Are his teeth in good shape? Does his hair shine? Are his eyes bright?
If he's always going to a doctor to see what's wrong with him, then
maybe he's eating the wrong things, but I wouldn't worry about the
number of meals he takes, just about what he actually eats.
If you want to encourage him to eat breakfast, the best way is to make
pancakes or hot muffins or have scrambled eggs and bacon, or fresh fruit
ready first thing in the morning, then sit down and enjoy it yourself
and offer him some.
I'll bet he snacks before going to bed and if what he's snacking on
doesn't seem too healthful to you, try snacking with him, and let him
see how much you enjoy the good food.
The only way you will ever provide him with good eating habits is to
show him by example and offer to share. But I'll bet he's just fine the
way he is, grazing around like a wild animal, eating whatever happens to
be convenient.
Children, and even teen aged boys, are able to make wonderful bread if a
friendly person will just steer them in that direction. See if you can
be that person. If he's spending all his money on junk food, you might
get him saving up for something really great that he would love to have
and show him how much money he can put away for that special something
just by eating what's available in his own kitchen.
If you want to change his eating habits, you have to be innovative. If
you can't devote the time and energy you need to for that purpose, then
just forget it. The worst thing you could ever do for family relations
is to lay your concerns about your grandson's eating on his parents. If
you do that then everyone will get angry and worry about it and if
anything is going to make the kid unhealthy it will be that sort of
family upheaval.
Study your grandson to find out everything you can possibly discover
about him that makes you proud, and never mention anything else. That
will go a long way towards making him a healthy individual.
Good luck.
GG
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