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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Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Food

If you buy baby food with additives in it you may be addicting your baby to fat sugar, preservatives and all kinds of bad things for life. This is because the additives put in these foods do make them look and taste better.

If you give baby a savory or sugary food that is brightly colored it is not going to learn to eat the foods that are good for them – at any age.

The side effects of eating foods that are bad for them include food allergies, increased waistlines, an inability to absorb minerals and vitamins, a fatty liver, childhood obesity, learning and behavioral disabilities and many different childhood cancers and diseases.
Make sure you avoid artificial sweeteners. These are combination of chemicals that make food taste sweeter. Beware of finding them in baby foods that are labeled 'natural', 'sugar-free' or organic.

These sweeteners cause cravings for more sweeteners and train the brain to mindlessly eat foods full of calories. Most foods that contain artificial sweeteners, like packaged bakery goods are also of poor nutritional quality.

Artificial sweeteners can harm your baby's brain and prevent it from growing. You could end up with a more nervous child or one with ADD.

Newer sweeteners on the scene include Sucralose (Splenda), Tagatose (Naturlose), and Neotame. Avoid Saccharin, NutraSweet and Sweet N'Low to avoid establishing an unhealthy taste for sweets in your infant.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used to bring out the flavor in foods and although, thankfully, it is not in most babyfoods anymore you should read the labels and watch out for it.

If pureeing your own baby food be sure to watch out for pickled foods and condiments that might contain this very toxic ingredient.

Nowadays, MSG may be hidden in infant formula, low fat milk, candy, chewing gum, drinks, over-the-counter medications (especially children's cold medicines).
Children are 4 times more sensitive to MSG than adults. Neonatal exposure to MSG can cause a permanent reduction in the secretion of growth hormone, leading to stunted growth and irreversible obesity.
Other reactions to MSG include headaches, nausea, weakness, a burning sensation in the back of neck and forearms, wheezing, changes in heart rate, and difficulty breathing.

These are preservatives that are added to processed meat products such as bacon, corned beef, ham, hot dogs, lunch meats, and sausage. They prevent the growth of bacteria.

Nitrates are considered dangerous by the FDA but they have not been banned because they prevent botulism.

Side effects of eating nitrates include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Still you may find these nitrates in baby foods that contain meat so be sure to read labels before you buy commercially made food!

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