Healthy Eating Tips for Teens

  If you're a typical teenager with parents who always nag you about what you eat, how you eat, when you eat or don't eat, and the amount of junk food you consume, these comments will sound familiar to you. Give your parents a break; they are just doing their job. They want you to eat properly so you'll develop, be healthy, and keep your moods balanced. 

Your body needs certain nutrients to feel well as you go through each day. The most important meal is breakfast, even though it's probably the most difficult for many teenagers. Breakfast is even more important if you aren't eating lunch on a regular basis, and are waiting until after school or until dinner to eat.

Protein is a primary component of our muscles, hair, nails, skin, eyes, and internal organs, especially the heart and brain. Protein is needed for growth, for healthy red blood cells, and much more. Protein foods include eggs, cheese, fish, beans, nuts, seeds, chicken, turkey, beef, and pork

If you're a typical teenager with parents who always nag you about what you eat, how you eat, when you eat or don't eat, and the amount of junk food you consume, these comments will sound familiar to you. Give your parents a break; they are just doing their job. They want you to eat properly so you'll develop, be healthy, and keep your moods balanced. 

Your body needs certain nutrients to feel well as you go through each day. The most important meal is breakfast, even though it's probably the most difficult for many teenagers. Breakfast is even more important if you aren't eating lunch on a regular basis, and are waiting until after school or until dinner to eat.

Protein is a primary component of our muscles, hair, nails, skin, eyes, and internal organs, especially the heart and brain. Protein is needed for growth, for healthy red blood cells, and much more. Protein foods include eggs, cheese, fish, beans, nuts, seeds, chicken, turkey, beef, and pork

Carbohydrates are our main source of energy and play an important role in the functioning of our nervous system, muscles, and internal organs. Carbohydrate foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. The foods you should eat in limited amounts are ones that contain sugar, such as packaged cookies, cakes, soda-these sugars are called simple carbohydrates; they have a negative effect on your blood sugar levels and your moods as well.

Fats are a form of energy reserve and insulation in your body, and can be burned to make energy when you don't get enough from your diet. Fats transport nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K through your body and fatty tissue protects your vital organs from trauma and temperature change. 

Simply put, there are "good" fats and "bad" fats. The "bad" fats are called saturated fats and are found in animal products, meats, and dairy foods; they should be eaten in limited amounts. These fats solidify at room temperature. Hydrogenated fats, sometimes called "transfatty acids" are also bad fats that are known to lead to heart disease and cancer. These hydrogenated fats are used in many packaged baked goods and margarine.

"You need to eat your breakfast," "that's enough soda," "please lose the junk food and eat some real food."