Understanding Preteen Eating Patterns

Preteens (kids aged ten to 13 years old) often display definite likes and dislikes when it comes to food. They can be quite tempted by junk food. thanks to being surrounded by messages from the media that make sugary, fatty or refined foods look delicious.

This age group also is hard to stop from snacking mindlessly between meals, especially while they are watching television.

One characteristic that your child might start to display at this age to a greater display is eating to comfort oneself. This is because a child this day may not know how to deal with approaching puberty, hormones and feelings about the opposite sex.

One pattern that could emerge is the one where your pre-teen eats to 'stuff down anger.' This is a hard-wired response to feeling anger that is satiated by the feeling of eating high calorie, salty foods.

Children from ages ten to 13 years old need to eat three sit-down square meals a day and at least three snacks a day to stay healthy. However some of these children may experience a big growth spurt that requires them to constantly be snacking. This is okay as long as the kid is not gaining a great deal of weight and as long as he or she is snacking on healthy foods.

Most preteens are happiest eating three meals a days. Studies have shown that kids who eat healthy meals at home are more likely to choose healthy snacks outside the home. That means saying ‘no’ to greasy chips and sugary candies.

You should also bag your child's lunch. Like play age kids, your preteen is vulnerable to the temptations at local fast food joints and has more expendable income of his own.

If your child must buy lunch then make sure he or she can make the right food choices. One way to control how your adolescent spends money on food is to give them a prepaid debit card; this will give you a good idea of how much they are eating and when they are eating.

Just as a brief recap preteens need to –
• Eat regularly
• Stay away from junk food
• Avoid excess salt and sugar
• Make sure they are getting enough calcium through food sources
• Make sure they are getting enough Vitamin D

The amount of food a child should eat from each food group on a daily basis is determined by his age, sex and physical activity level.

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Healthy Eating Habits for School Age Kids

A preteen is also known as a pre-adolescent or a tweenie. This refers to a child that is between ten and twelve years of age. Some kids this age have special nutritional needs because they are starting puberty a bit early. Some of them experience a slower appetite because they have yet to enter adolescent. Still others start growing like a weed and may eat more food than you thought imaginable.

Your child also might be short some essential nutrients due to growth spurts and hormonal changes. If you have a kid that does not seem to be eating right then consider supplementing the diet with vitamin A, fiber, folic acid, calcium, zinc and iron.

It is not unusual for a kid this age to experience craving for all kinds of different foods. If you want the child to stay healthy keep your home full of healthy options like vegetarian burritos, fruit and vegetable sticks. Do not tempt fate by keeping a lot of junk food in the refrigerator.

It is quite easy to make low fat versions of junk food favorites like a Filet-o-Fish, Fried Chicken or Tacos. All you need to do is look for these recipes on the internet. Many of them can be redone using healthy ingredients.

Many kids also like ethnic dishes, especially Chinese food, Mexican food and Indian food. These are healthy cuisines. Make your own version of popular dishes like chicken chow mein, quesadillas and vegetable curry and leave the extra salt and MSG out. Greek food is also very healthy for a child to eat because it is cooked with olives and olive oil. These contain fatty omega3 acids that are very good for brain development.

One way to encourage a child around this age to eat well is to appeal to his or her vanity. They are just starting to notice the opposite sex and want to look attractive. You need to describe how eating vegetables will make them have beautiful shiny hair, create healthy skin or cause them to grow taller. There is nothing like a bit of self-interest to make a child choose a salad over a bag of Fritos. This is also a good way to encourage a child to remember to take his or her vitamins.

Above all it is important for you to set a good example by eating a healthy diet yourself. Do not take a 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude.

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