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Eating Habits for Teen

Healthy eating is vital for your teen's health and well being. The nutritional needs of teens vary tremendously, but generally increase due to the rapid growth and changes in body composition that occur during puberty. Adequate nutrition is vital for ensuring your teens overall emotional and physical health. Good eating habits help prevent chronic illness in the future, including obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Did you know that most adolescents fail to meet the recommended dietary requirements for caloric and nutrient intake? Many teens in fact receive the majority of their calories from processed and high fat foods. A low intake of essential nutrients including vitamin A, folic acid, fiber, iron and calcium is prevalent among adolescents. A low intake of iron and calcium in particular is common among female adolescents, which can impair cognitive function and physical performance, as well as increase a females risk for osteoporosis later in life!

Nutritional Adequacy

What are teen eating habits and why are they important to recognize? By understanding teen eating habits you will be better prepared to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of your teen's diet and ensure that they are meeting the minimum requirements to maintain their health and well being.

Among the more common teen eating habits include skipping meals, routine fast food consumption, frequent snacking and dieting. By addressing each of these factors individually you can ensure that your teen is meeting the minimum nutritional requirements.

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Skipping Meals: A Common Pattern of Consumption

Teens skip meals for a variety of reasons, including irregular schedules, convenience, work and social activities. Up to 50% of teens skip breakfast at one point or another. Breakfast is actually the most important meal of the day!

What can you do? With regard to breakfast, let your teen know that skipping breakfast can slow their metabolism contributing to weight gain and poor performance. A busy lifestyle or running late are often reasons teens skip meals.

To combat this, have a supply of ready to eat healthy food items available that your teen can grab and go in the morning.

Teen Health Eating Habits

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Snacking: A survival Technique for Teens

“Snacking doesn't have to be a bad thing. It can help maintain energy levels particularly in active and growing teens. ”

“Because of the 'skipping meal' factor, many teens fail to eat three regular meals per day, thus snacking can actually be beneficial to ensure adequate caloric intake. ”

“The key however is encouraging teens to consume snacks that are nutrient dense rather than junk foods low in nutrients. ”

“Again, the key here is having snack items readily available including yogurt, fresh fruits and vegetables with dips, snack cheeses and healthy snack bars or trail mixes. ”

Fast Foods: A Staple of Teen's Diets

No parent no matter how well meaning will be able to avoid fast food altogether. Teens are more apt to eat fast food because it is convenient and typically a social affair.

Fast food is often jam packed full of fat and empty calories however. What can you do? Educate your teen as much as possible. Help them make smart food choices even when at fast food restaurants.

To as great an extent as possible, you should also work to provide wholesome and healthy foods at home including healthy snack items to supplement your teen's fast food diet.

Dieting: The Evil Opposite of Healthy Eating

Teens often diet because of the perception that 'thin is in'. Dieting can lead to dangerous habits including eating disorders in teens. Some signs that your teen may be dieting include: skipping meals, 'binge' eating, fasting or use of laxatives or diet pills.

One thing you can do for your teen is encourage a healthy self esteem and body image. Engage your teen in extracurricular activities that promote a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise.

Remember that your teen will also model the behaviors that they see at home. If you are constantly obsessing about your weight, your teen is likely too. Always aspire to maintain a healthy and balanced approach to eating and your teen is more likely to do the same.

One approach is to attempt to eliminate the term 'diet' and replace it with 'healthy eating.' If you regularly incorporate healthy lifestyle and dietary practices into your life your teen is less likely to diet on a consistent basis.

Recognizing teen eating habits is the first step toward encouraging healthy eating practices. Work with your teen to encourage a healthy lifestyle that incorporates sound eating habits and regular exercise. You might both benefit in the process!