AITA for yelling at my mom?

Jonathan Hours
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In a quiet suburban kitchen, a 15-year-old girl stares at an empty plate, her heart sinking as her favorite meatloaf vanishes again. Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, she’s trapped in a world of bland food, thanks to her mother’s strict dietary rules. When a kind neighbor sends over tasty dishes, it’s a lifeline—until her mom swipes them for work lunches, sparking a fiery clash.

This Reddit tale captures a teen’s struggle for normalcy against her mother’s overreach. Readers feel her frustration as she fights for a taste of joy. Who’s really at fault here?

‘AITA for yelling at my mom?’

I (15f) was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in March and since then my mom has been crazy about what I eat. I'm not allowed to have caffeine, gluten, lactose, sugar, and a list of other stuff. Food has been bland and horrible since then.

Even my doctor is saying to let me eat whatever the hell I want and figure out if any foods bother me because I'm losing weight but she's refusing because she thinks this will get me off medicine (I'm fine with being on this medicine. I haven't had any side effects and I feel pretty good).

My neighbor (85) is a really good cook and I was venting to her about my mom and the food situation so she asked my mom for a list of what I can't have and she started sending me food at least twice a week. It's really good and whenever she sends food it's enough for dinner and lunch the next day.

The problem is my mom has been stealing my food because she doesn't want to make lunch for work and it's convenient so I have to go back to the flavorless crap. The neighbor sent me a small meatloaf yesterday (one of my favorite things she makes) and it was gone this morning and I got really mad and yelled at her for stealing my food.

I told her how much I hate the flavorless s**t she keeps in the house and this is the only time I can have good food. I told her if she wants real food she can make some for herself but I'm not allowed to have it so this is all I have.

She yelled at me for being rude and saying it's her house so she can take it if she wants to. I feel bad for yelling at her but I'm just done with this. I miss being able to go out to eat with my friends and getting starbucks after school and just having real food.

This kitchen showdown is more than just a fight over food—it’s a clash of control and care gone awry. The teen’s mother, likely driven by fear for her daughter’s health, has taken dietary restrictions to an extreme, ignoring medical advice. This creates a risky situation, as restrictive diets can worsen weight loss for someone with Ulcerative Colitis, a condition that already complicates nutrient absorption.

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Dr. David T. Rubin, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, emphasizes a balanced approach: “Diet in IBD should be individualized. A food diary can help identify triggers without blanket restrictions” . Here, the mother’s rigid rules dismiss this nuanced approach, potentially harming her daughter’s health. The teen’s frustration is understandable—she’s not just losing food but also agency over her body.

This situation reflects a broader issue: parental overreach in managing chronic illnesses. Studies show that 20-30% of teens with IBD face malnutrition risks due to overly restrictive diets . The mother’s food theft, while seemingly minor, underscores a lack of empathy for her daughter’s emotional and physical needs.

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For solutions, open communication is key. The teen could involve her doctor to mediate a discussion, emphasizing medical guidance. Exploring meal services like Epicured, designed for IBD patients, could satisfy both taste and health needs.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

The Reddit community didn’t hold back, serving up spicy takes with a side of empathy. Here’s what they had to say about this culinary conflict.

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[Reddit User] - NTA she knows you have restrictions when it comes to your diet, and she still takes your food? That's f**ked up. She should be putting more effort into getting food you actually like & stop taking advantage of your neighbor, who is doing a really nice thing for you.

anathema_deviced - UC here. What your mom is doing is dangerous. We're already at an elevated risk of malabsorption, so eliminating entire food groups jeopardizes your heath. The best approach is to reintroduce foods and keep a diary to learn your specific triggers so you can avoid them. If your mother continues to disregard the doctor, call him/her bc CPS may need to get involved to get her on track. NTA

Dont-trust-it - NTA. Firstly what your mom is doing is dangerous. You are at risk of malnutrition if she keeps ignoring the doctors advice and only allows you to eat from select food groups. Secondly her stealing the little nutritious food that you do manage to get via your neighbour is just wrong. She is being lazy, inconsiderate, completely uncaring and almost neglectful of her childs health.. This whole situation is worrying.

purpleit11 - NTA, your neighbor is showing so much thought and kindness in preparing food for you to enjoy. Your mom has concerns about what you eat but she doesn't get to steal food prepared for you. If she's jealous of food being prepared and convenient, she can order a meal service.

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Also, I have digestive concerns, including a bout of colitis last summer that they thought was UC but didn't end up being it. I got into a meal service called Epicured. It's really fantastic flavor and nice to be able to eat food that tastes good and won't make me sick. It's not fair for your mom to declare whatever's in the house as hers, and I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

HomelyHobbit - Tell your neighbor she's been stealing your food and ask if you can come over to eat. Also, you have the right to see your doctor without her in the room. Tell your doctor that your mom has made up a completely bland diet for you that is causing you to lose weight,

and is stealing and eating food provided for you by others. Basically, just let EVERYONE know what she's doing. If she doesn't have the common decency to do the right thing then maybe a dose of shame will help.

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JustheBean - NTA so your mom is imposing an unreasonable level of dietary restrictions (with no expertise, and more likely than not unnecessarily) and is also continually taking the only foods you can eat under said diet. WTF is she thinking? She clearly doesn’t understand UC half as well as she thinks she does.

It’s not uncommon for the classic *unhealthy* foods to be the ones that cause fewer triggers. I have several friends with UC or Crohn’s who have to live off of white bread, chips, and chicken nuggets. But can’t eat a single raw vegetable without ending up in the hospital. A diet for this kind of issue is not nearly as “intuitive” as your mother wants to believe.

You are already dropping weight, unhealthily so. So why is your mom trying to impose all the current weight loss fads? Losing weight is no where remotely close to the goal. Her logic just makes no sense, and at a certain point it’s endangering your welfare.. I’d be angry too. Your mother is being unreasonable and unsafe to your health.

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devlin94 - NTA. Get a good quality cooler with a pad lock. You and the neighbor have the keys. Neighbor puts in delicious food, you eat delicious food. Mom goes to the drive-thru.. Good luck OP. I hope you feel better.

shannamarie91 - NTA After reading this and the comments, I honestly feel like you should call CPS. You have a disease that requires you to need to eat good, nutritious food. She is purposely feeding you a bland, nutrientless diet that is going to hurt you in the end. She's purposely going against what your Dr is telling you and isn't allowing you to make your own food. This is abuse.

OilSeeYouL8er - NTA - I almost always rule against kids yelling at parents especially over food but it's incredibly rude of her to force you to eat an entirely restricted diet while making no effort to make it taste good. You should get your neighbor to teach you how to cook

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halcyonnights_ - NTA, I used to have this issue when I lived with my mom. She’d take my food to feed my brother (would’ve been okay with it if she asked) so I bought a mini fridge to keep in my room and had a lock on my door to my bedroom. Not saying this will be the solution to your issue, however. Perhaps try cooking some things yourself while she’s out of the house! :)

These opinions range from fiery support for the teen to practical tips like locking up her food. But do these hot takes hold up in real life, or are they just Reddit’s classic keyboard courage?

This tale of stolen meatloaf and family friction highlights the delicate balance between care and control. The teen’s outburst wasn’t just about food—it was a cry for autonomy in a life already constrained by illness. Her mother’s intentions may stem from love, but they’ve veered into harmful territory. What would you do if you were caught in this kitchen clash? Would you confront a parent, seek outside help, or maybe sneak a mini fridge into your room? Share your stories and solutions below!

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