Top Ten Tips For Feeding Teenagers

Teens are fussy, conscious about their weight and more subject to impulse eating than probably any other age group alive (except for maybe toddlers who have been know to eat a single food for months on end and never eat anything else.)

1.
Do not tempt fate by bringing junk food for yourself or other family members into the home if you are trying to keep a teenager healthy

2.
Be aware that your child might be short some essential nutrients and need supplementation with vitamin A, folic acid, fiber, iron, calcium, and zinc

3.
Most teenagers are quite concerned with how their appearance and can be convinced that they will be slimmer and more beautiful if they eat a healthy diet and exercise

4.
Make low-fat versions of junk food menu favorites; there are many recipes to be found online that can help you make healthy versions of junk food favorites like French Fries, Cheeseburgers, Tacos and Fried Chicken

5.
Make food more interesting by cooking ethnic versions; this keeps your teen interested in meal times

6.
Curb cravings for junk foods by making sure that your teen is getting adequate supplementation with vitamins he or she may need

7.
As was true with the pre-teen keep your eye out for the warning signs of symptoms of a teen who may be suffering from anorexia or bulimia and get them treated in an eating disorders program

8.
Never use food as a reward for good behavior or have your teen associate it with love and affection; this can lead to eating disorders

9.
If your child is an emotional eater gets him or her to recognize HALT – never get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired as that is when he or she is most vulnerable to binging on junk foods

10.
Be aware that a child that is not eating at all may be doing recreational drugs or smoking; nip these habits in the bud by addressing the matter directly as soon as you can as they are so damaging to every aspect of your teenagers growth
When your child hits age 13 you can expect a real growth spurt. The nutritional needs of your child are greatly increased because of the changes in body composition and increased growth rate that is associated with sexual development and the path towards puberty.
Some teens do not change but most experience a dramatic need for all kinds of foods. Many teens are also incredibly active and expend a lot of fuel. Many spend more time at work, have a job, socialize more, exercise more and have more erratic behaviors in general that affect how they eat

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The Benefits of Having a Well Nourished Child

You are what you eat. This applies to children just as it does to adults. The benefits of making sure that your child eats properly straight from age 0 to 19 are many.

Here is what you can accomplish for your child if you try to bring them up right and teach them to shop well and eat well —

• An emotionally balanced individual who is less likely to suffer from mood swings or depression because the proper nutrition has allowed their brains to develop correctly
• A physically healthier person who is less prone to diseases of all kinds (this is especially true of kids who were breastfed and not fed bottled milk all of their lives.)
• A person who is not likely to develop allergies or other disorders (also the result of being breast fed instead of bottle fed)
• A person who is less prone to obesity (because they have not been exposed to sugar at a young age)
• An individual that has a healthy self-image and does not need to resort to behaviors like bulimia or anorexia (because he or she has not grown up in a household where food is used as emotional blackmail or as a punishment or a reward)
• A calm productive person who does well in school (because a well nourished brain is one that is able to focus and does not develop problems like ADD)
• A richer adult who does not blow money on expensive junk food or impulse purchases at the grocery store (because he or she does not experience cravings)

• A person who can cook healthy nutritious meals and pass good lifestyle habits through to the next generation

Above all you will be raising an individual who is accountable for himself or herself and who is less likely to be a burden on the medical system! Obesity costs Canadians and Americans millions of dollars each year. The system is overloaded with people who think that food comes from a restaurant, box or package. Possibly the best thing you can do is teach your child to buy healthy produce and cook it. Teach them about the evils of too much salt, sugar and fat earlier in life so they do not develop a taste for it.

Furthermore any children that your children have are likely to be healthier as well – good nutrition is a gift that keeps on giving onwards through those who descend from you!

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