<p>Although many of you are wondering why this would be an issue, this parent needs some answers, please. My son has terrible eating habits - all meat and potatoEs, not a lick of vegetables. Multi-vitamins have helped but soon he will be out of our watchful eyes. Since he hasn't aquired a taste for any vegetables, will that present a problem at the table? He also doesn't eat cakes, pies or any fruit. Running all the time has given him an "out" - oh just a burger please. Having Developed into a very picky eater I feel may cause a little concern at WP. Can cadets please ring-in and inform us of what he can expect around the eating table? Give us in detail the complete atmosphere around the required meals, thank you.</p>
<p>Great details about how why your son needs to get away. I hope he gets in.
What he is eating will be much less of concern that IF he is eating. hehee
You of all people should be enjoying this.</p>
<p>During Beast, he will eat EVERYTHING he can get his hands on. I'm 5'2, 115, needing the least food out of everyone in my squad, but even I stayed hungry. He will learn to eat anything and everything, and eat it fast. I survived on Gatorade Bars while out at Frederick. Will he cause concern by not eating vegetables? I don't really think anyone will care that much, but I pretty much guarantee he'll learn to like them. </p>
<p>During Beast, everyone sits at the table silently and stares at their crest (on the plate). The 3 kids at the end of the table perform table duties (making sure everything is opened, pouring the drinks, announcing stuff, cutting the dessert, etc.) The Table Comm (the upperclassman at the table) will ask knowledge. Oftentimes there's only 10 minutes to eat once all the knowledge has been asked. You can't take food back to your room, except for one piece of fruit, and you aren't allowed to store it (though people start hording it and Gatorade Bars). Peanut Butter becomes everyone's best friend. Everyone at my table ate peanut butter on EVERYTHING, literally, 'cause it provided so much protein.</p>
<p>During the Academic Year, the upperclassmen outnumber the plebes at the table by a LOT. Initially they'll probably haze and ask knowledge, but if you have a good company, that won't last too long.</p>
<p>Hehe, yeah, my table always went through about a jar of peanut butter each meal. Peanut butter provides the necessary calories and energy, and even if it's your favorite food in the world, you'll get sick of it. It's great over the summer, but I haven't had a PB&J sandwich since Beast. ;)</p>
<p>Don't worry about the food issue all that much though. There are ways to get enough food, be it through chaplains time, bringing food back to your room, etc. Plus, a lot of New Cadets didn't realize this at first, but they are required to give you a specific amount of time to eat. If you lose too much weight, you get to go to the 'heavy' tables, and eat twice as much as everyone else.</p>
<p>The academic year is a lot better, with regards to food. All the upperclassmen want to eat too, plus you can have your own food in your room to eat whenever you want. Or you can order food. There are a lot of options.</p>
<p>Rockymnt - I think I have your son! No fruit, no veggies, ect. Same deal just at a different academy. No worries. Mine has faired well. The others are right in that they will LEARN quickly to eat anything they can lay their hands on during those first few weeks. You can send lots of boodle boxes (I average one a week) after they've been there a while. And they will get to order out from time to time. The kids at USMMA have hot water. Thats it. No microwaves, so its tricky looking for creative things to send in a boodle box. You might need to check into the "boodle" thread here for some ideas. Crackers with canned chicken spread (yuck), beef sticks, ramen noodles, drink mixes & the like. I do sneak in some fruit wrap type things but bet they get traded. He has terrible eating habits! But when he was home at Xmas, he was solid as a rock. No weight loss & had built some muscle. I don't know how but he had. He'd love it if I could find a way to send turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy or steak & a baked potato. Italian night is the very worst for my kid. Hates marinara sauce but usually they offer sub sandwiches so he has a choice. Just had to post my thoughts here even though its army (GO NAVY) because I feel your pain. LOL He'll do fine.</p>
<p>I noticed a brand new attitude when twin_b came home for the first time. She would eat anything - including veggies - and hasn't been picky at all. </p>
<p>p.s. Don't tell her I'm talking about her.</p>
<p>...I think you're talking about me. ;)</p>
<p>Yeah, I'll eat pretty much anything nowadays. It's kind of funny, actually. But I've never been a particularly picky eater. I do eat my vegetables though - never exactly went out of my way to do that before.</p>