How Much Protein Does My Teenage Boy Need?

It may seem as if your teenage boy is a bottomless pit: No matter how much food you serve him -- especially more expensive foods such as meats and other protein sources -- he just wants more. Teenage boys do need a little more protein than adults, especially if they're active. But most Americans -- athletic teens included -- already get enough protein in their daily diets.

Requirements

Protein helps to build muscle tissue, and teenage boys develop plenty of new muscle as they're shooting up and filling out. Therefore, teen boys between the ages of 14 and 18 need to consume more protein than girls: 52 grams per day, compared to the 46 grams for girls. Boys and girls ages 9 to 13 need less protein: 34 grams daily, according to Baylor College of Medicine.

Amounts

A total of 52 grams of protein may seem like a lot, but your teenage boy probably already gets that much. Meats, chicken and fish contain plenty of protein, but there's also protein in grain products such as breads and cereals, along with milk products such as yogurt and ice cream. For example, 6 ounces of lean hamburger meat contains about 44 grams of protein, or almost enough to meet your teen's daily protein needs. A full chicken breast contains nearly 54 grams of protein, or more than enough protein for the day.

Considerations

Teenage boys who participate in athletic activities such as weightlifting or long-distance running will need to make sure they get some additional protein. Rice University recommends getting 0.6 to 0.9 grams of protein each day for every pound you weigh. Therefore, a 140-pound teenage boy who's very active would need between 84 and 126 grams of protein each day. In addition to meat products, you should try to provide whole grains and high-protein vegetables, such as beans, to help your teen meet those goals.

Diet

Teenage boys need a well-balanced diet that includes protein, carbohydrates and small amounts of healthy fats in order to help them build sound nutritional habits and stave off the threat of excess weight accumulation. You should encourage your teen to limit overall calories to about 2,200 per day and fat calories to 750 calories per day, and to eat lots of whole grains in order to get needed fiber. In addition, teenage boys should eat 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables each day.