Parent support guide
My Runner
Won't Eat
Most under-fueled high school runners are not being defiant. They are busy, disconnected from appetite, or quietly overwhelmed by food.
Skipped mealsFlat energyRepeated illnessStress fractureMissing period
Start here
Spot the pattern. Lower friction first. Stay calm. Escalate sooner when red flags show up.
Support reminders
Observe first
look for the repeated pattern.
Lower friction
easier food usually works before more pressure.
Stay calm
a quiet slide is still worth acting on.
Next action
Name the pattern
skipped meals, flat energy, headaches, or poor recovery.
Fix one friction point
car snack, ready meal, or easier recovery food.
Escalate sooner
ask for help early when red flags stack up.
Do not do this
Do not turn the problem into a control battle over one meal.Do not wait for the situation to look dramatic before you act.Do not assume supplements or protein shakes solve a deeper pattern by themselves.
The goal is to make adequate eating easier, calmer, and safer before the pattern deepens.