Reddit Users Advise Stepmother on Teen's Limited Eating Habits
A Reddit user, a stepmother, is seeking advice on how to handle her 17-year-old stepdaughter's extremely limited eating habits. The teenager refuses to eat anything outside a small range of basic foods, causing concern and frustration for the stepmother.
Many Reddit users agreed that the teenager is old enough to take responsibility for her own food. They suggested teaching her how to prepare her preferred meals herself. A compromise was proposed: keep the stepdaughter's preferred foods on hand, but she should prepare them herself. This way, she learns to take care of her own nutritional needs while still eating foods she enjoys.
The stepmother has tried to encourage her partner to address the issue but has been ignored. She feels drained from preparing meals that cater to her stepdaughter's narrow food choices. Some Reddit users suggested seeking professional help. In Germany, there are various research institutions and organisations that deal with the treatment of eating disorders and offer special programmes for teenagers. Notable ones include the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Essstörungen (DGESS), Universitätskliniken, Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie am Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Schön Klinik, and the BzGA (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung). These places often provide psychotherapeutical approaches tailored to the specific needs of teenagers.
The stepmother's concern for her stepdaughter's eating habits is valid. Teaching the teenager to prepare her own meals and considering professional help are viable solutions. In Germany, there are numerous institutions and organisations that specialise in treating eating disorders in teenagers.
