Weekly household shop rises by £42 when teenagers hit growth spurt

Parents’ weekly food shops rise by an average of £42 when their teenagers hit a growth spurt. A poll of 1,000 parents and guardians with children aged 13-18 found 55% have seen them go through a growth period in the past year, with 81% of these saying their overall grocery bill has increased as a result.

In fact, more than a quarter (26%) find themselves making at least two extra trips to the shops each week on top of their usual food run. With more milk, eggs and cheese on their lists of essentials to help keep their teens fed.

After school is peak snacking time, with 46% reaching for extra food between 3pm and 6pm. With 29% of parents claiming their teens can clear out cupboards in just three days. Overall, 65% of parents admitted keeping their teens fed while managing food expenses is a challenge.

Of all the parents polled, the research found the average teen gets through three boxes of cereal, six packets of crisps and six portions of fruit during a typical week.

Alongside regular meals, they’re also enjoying extra bread and toast (28%), as well as protein-heavy foods like chicken, eggs and yoghurt (21%).

But it’s not just snacks driving up costs, with dinner being the biggest drain on budget for nearly half (48%) of families. In fact, 28% of teens ask for second helpings a few times a week.

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer for Aldi, which commissioned the research 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 research revealed 40% of parents with teens who have gone through a growth spurt are seeking out more supermarket deals, turning to own-brand products to ease the financial burden. Others are also bulking out meals with low-cost staples such as pasta, rice and potatoes to make them stretch 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”.

Aldi has partnered 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 explained that between secondary school and turning 16, a teenager’s daily energy needs can rise by close to 40% for boys and 20-25% for girls.

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.