A survey of 1,000 parents and guardians with children aged 13-18 revealed that 55% have watched their teens go through a growth period in the past year, with 81% of these reporting their overall food bill has shot up as a result. More than a quarter (26%) find themselves making at least two additional trips to the supermarket each week on top of their regular shop, stocking up on milk, eggs and cheese to keep their hungry teens satisfied.
Snacking Habits and Budget Strain
After school proves to be peak snacking time, with 46% of teens reaching for extra food between 3pm and 6pm. A whopping 29% of parents claim their teens can empty the cupboards in just three days, while 65% of parents admitted that keeping their teens fed while managing food costs is a real struggle.
The research found the average teenager gets through three boxes of cereal, six packets of crisps and six portions of fruit during a typical week. Alongside their main meals, teens are also tucking into extra bread and toast (28%), as well as protein-rich foods such as chicken, eggs and yoghurt (21%). However, it's not just snacks pushing up costs, with dinner proving the biggest drain on the budget for nearly half (48%) of families. Indeed, 28% of teens ask for second helpings a few times a week.
Expert Insights and Budgeting Tips
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer for Aldi, which commissioned the study, said: "From bigger portions at mealtimes to extra snacks throughout the day, it can be tricky to budget for growing appetites. Many parents are feeling the pressure as they try to keep household spending under control."
The study found 40% of parents with teenagers who have experienced a growth spurt are hunting for more supermarket offers, switching to own-brand items to reduce financial strain. Others are bulking out meals with affordable staples such as pasta, rice and potatoes to make them go further. Julie Ashfield added: "Families are increasingly looking for simple, affordable ways to stay stocked up. But it's also important that we're providing the right nutrients for their needs. We're committed to providing access to affordable, high-quality produce, helping parents support teens through these periods of rapid growth without breaking the bank."
Growth Spurt Shop Launch
Aldi has teamed up with expert nutritionist Lucy Upton to launch the Growth Spurt Shop, a dedicated online resource for parents and guardians to understand how to better fuel their growing teens for less. Lucy highlighted that between secondary school and turning 16, a teenager's daily energy requirements can increase by close to 40% for boys and 20-25% for girls.
Lucy's Top Tips for Parents
1. Don't be alarmed by the sharp rise in appetite
Avoid commenting on changing eating habits or appetite. Instead, focus on easy ways to support extra demand, like serving meals in the middle of the table so they can help themselves to seconds, or keeping extra bread or bagels for late-night snacks.
2. Add to what they already accept
Teenagers may be reluctant to completely overhaul their diet during a growth spurt but small extras like peanut butter, olive oil, cheese or milk powder can boost calories, protein and calcium.
3. Build a "self-serve" snack station
To keep up with high energy demands, try batch-prepping balanced items such as overnight oats, energy balls, smoothies, pre-filled sandwiches, a throw-together trail mix (with nuts, popcorn, dried fruit, and chocolate chips), or chopped vegetables with hummus in the fridge.
4. Growth needs more than energy
Teens need more iron and calcium to meet demands for growth and development. Boost intake with easy options like baked beans on toast or jacket potatoes, a tin of tuna mixed into pasta, scrambled eggs, melted cheese on pasta, a milky drink before bed or a yoghurt drink on the go.
5. Protein is important
Protein is key for growing muscles and bones and supports satiety (fullness) for hungry teenagers. A large glass of milk, a pot of yoghurt, two eggs, half a tin of baked beans or a handful of peanuts or mixed nuts easily provides growing teens with what they need.
