How to Start Eating Healthy As a Teenager – A Beginners Guide. Eating healthy is a challenge for teenagers, but with a little planning and preparation, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. Eating right is important for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the majority of American teenagers are adopting a more westernised diet.
This is because, as a result of the recession and the increased emphasis on healthy eating, many parents are looking for new and more affordable ways to feed their children. The key is to get it right from the start.
How to Start Eating Healthy As a Teenager
If you are a parent looking to introduce healthy eating to your child, check out our article on how to start eating healthy as a teenager. If you are a teenager who wants to eat right but doesn’t know where to begin, this article has the answers you need.
What is healthy eating?
Eating healthy is not just a matter of eating healthy for your whole life. It is a result of who you are as a person and your life experiences. What makes you healthy may change with age, time, environment, and other people in your life.
Healthy eating is eating a balanced and healthy diet. It can be a combination of nutritious fresh produce, whole grains, lean meats, fish, veggies, and healthy fats. It does not have to be complicated, and in fact, the majority of people can eat healthy foods and achieve the same health benefits as those who eat more highly processed foods. Eating healthy does not mean that you have to eat only certain foods, or that you have to sacrifice certain parts of your diet.
Healthy eating is about choosing the right foods for your body and mind. It is about discovering what foods will provide the most benefit for you and your body. You can learn more about healthy eating in our article on the benefits of eating healthy.
Why is eating healthy important for teenagers?
Healthy eating is important for a number of reasons. Whether you are a teenager who is just learning to cook or you have been eating healthy your entire life, there are a few things that all teenagers should know.
- Food has a purpose: The way that food is prepared and the nutrients that are in it can greatly affect your health and well-being. Choosing and using correctly can prevent a variety of health problems.
- The way that we eat is changing: American eating patterns are changing as a result of the recession and the increased emphasis on healthy eating.
- Eating healthily is challenging: It is easy to fall into the trap of eating too much and gaining too little weight. Healthy eating involves both physical and mental effort.
- Eating well is expensive: Although it is not always expensive, healthy food does cost money. It is why you need to be careful with how much you are putting in your body.
- Eating healthy does not mean that you have to eat healthy all the time: Although it is the healthier option, eating right does not mean that you have to eat only healthy foods all the time.
- Learning to cook healthy food: Cooking healthy food can be an acquired skill. You need to be able to put together meals that include the basics.
- Learning to portionize: One of the most important skills that you will learn as a teenager is to portionize. This means that you will need to learn to portionize foods that you eat.
- Finding your personal balance: The most important skill that you will learn as a teenage is to find your personal balance. This means finding a healthy weight for your body and eating healthy at every meal and snack throughout the day.
- Making healthy choices for social situations: Social situations can be overly influenced by what you eat. Make an effort to avoid taking liberties with what is served at social gatherings.
- Finding healthy alternatives to special occasions: Although you may enjoy chocolate cake for your 16th birthday, there are better options.
The benefits of eating healthy
Healthy eating is not a quick fix, it is a lifestyle change that can have long term benefits. The most obvious is that it will help you stay healthy and avoid side effects of medication. Eating healthy does not mean that you have to pickle or can prolidor to get your daily calcium.
- It is important to gain some muscle: The harder you work out, the more nutrition you are putting into your body. Healthy eating is about eating real food, not Jello.
- You will feel better: As a result of the increased attention to health and nutrition, people are more likely to make healthy choices. They are also less likely to be heavy or gain weight.
- It is cheaper: Having a balanced diet does not have to cost a fortune. You can find cheaper versions of the healthier ingredients that you need in your local supermarket.
- You will save money: While healthy eating will cost you in the short run, you will be able to save money in the long run. By not buying foods that are unhealthy for you, you are simply paying the price that they are worth.
The benefits of eating right
Healthy eating is not a competition, it is a lifestyle. What you put into your body will directly affect the way that your body responds to things such as stress, anxiety, and disease.
- You will have more energy: We all know that being tired is a result of not getting enough energy drinks. Having low blood sugar is a precursor to many illnesses, such as diabetes.
- You will feel full: We all know that snack time is always a stressful time for kids. Finding ways to boost your metabolism and make your body feel full is one of the best ways to avoid hunger pangs.
- You will not gain weight: The way that you eat is an essential part of building and maintaining your body. If you are consuming healthy foods, you are not putting weight on and will not gain weight.
- You will be healthier: Food is not the only source of health benefits for you as a teenager. You will also get necessary nutrients from a healthy diet.
- You will be able to focus better: It is easy to become distracted when you are not eating healthy. By choosing to focus on what you are eating, you will be able to avoid making bad choices and being seriously injured.
The low points of eating right
You forget to eat: One of the most challenging things about healthy eating for teens is keeping it up. You may not be able to eat all of the things that you want to eat for social occasions. Even if you are allowed to have one friend over for dinner, you may not be able to eat the full meal because you do not have enough time to eat it all.
You do not know what to eat: Many teenagers prefer Spanish food or pizza over healthier options. If you are not familiar with how to cook healthy food, it can be difficult to find healthy alternatives to special occasions.
What to eat and not to eat as a teenager
- Red meat: Although it is not recommended due to the risk of cancer, raw meat such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and pork chops can be eaten by teenagers.
- Saturated fats: Saturated fats come in various forms, such as butter, ghee, and coconut oil. While these fats are healthy for vegetarians, they are not good for anyone.
- Processed foods: Processed foods are high in sodium, sugar, preservatives, and chemicals. These foods do not provide the necessary nutrients for your body.
- White rice: White rice is not a healthy choice because it is full of carbohydrates and has very little nutrition.
- White flours: White flours are made of mazout and refined flour. They are unwholesome and full of unhealthy fats.
- Carbohydrates: While you may consume them in the form of desserts and pastries, carbohydrates are not good for you. They are stored calories that slow down your metabolism and make you gain weight.
- Convenience foods: Convenience foods are not a healthy choice because they are not made from scratch. They are high in carbohydrates, fats, and sodium.
Find a mentor or a dietitian
If you are a parent who is looking to introduce healthy eating to your child, it is critical that you find a dietitian or mentor who is experienced in working with adolescents. A dietitian is a healthcare professional who specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders like anorexia and obesity. This is because the majority of eating disorders are caused by a combination of Genetics and Environment.
It is important that you find a dietitian who is familiar with the behaviours and challenges that your child may face. You can search for dietitians online or visit a local cancer support group to find a mentor. A dietitian can help you plan out your child’s diet, compile a healthy eating plan, and offer nutritional advice. If you are unable to find a dietitian near you, there are online resources such as the Nutritionists’ Helpline that can help you find a dietitian in your area.
Learning the difference between healthy and unhealthy food
As a parent, you may be concerned about what your child is eating, especially if they are not growing and developing as expected. Many parents worry that their child is not getting enough protein because they are not giving them meat or fish dishes at every meal. This is not the case, as both fish and meat are rich in essential nutrients. However, certain food groups, like dairy and grains, do not contain the amounts that a child’s body needs.
The amount of nutrients that a child needs is calculated on the “ideal body weight” for that age group. The ideal body weight for a 15-year-old is about 90 kilograms, which means that they would have to consume about 90 kilograms of ideal food to gain the recommended amount of nutrients. This is further regulated by age group as well, with the ideal body weight for adolescents being around 10% less than that of adults.
Simple steps to take before making a meal
Depending on your child’s age, they may not be able to fully understand the benefits of healthy eating. This is why it is important to communicate the importance of healthy eating to your child on a variety of different levels. The first and foremost is by helping your child to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy food. This can be done by having your child try a variety of different foods at home, including sugar-free gum, fruit, veggies, whole-wheat bread, and more.
Make sure to get your child on the right track by being specific when teaching them how to eat healthy. For example, instead of saying “get your vegetables,” say “have your vegetables,” “have some carrots,” or “have a bite of this meat dish.” You can also explain that healthy eating does not mean eating “five times as much” as you usually do. This can be a big help to your child when trying to understand the benefits of healthy eating.
Conclusion
Eating well can be difficult for teens, but with a little planning and preparation, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. Although it is important to allow for dietary differences in your child, you can also make sure to stay on top of your nutritional intake. Follow these tips to help your child achieve a balanced and healthy diet as they transition into adulthood:
Find a mentor or a dietitian – An experienced and qualified dietitian can help you to plan out your child’s diet, help to create a healthy eating plan, and offer nutritional advice.
Start small – If you are having difficulty getting your child to eat certain food items, it is best to start small. A great way to get your child to try new foods is to take away the “no” from “yes” for a few days. You can start by taking away the “no” from “no meat” or “no fish” for a week, and see how your child responds.
Be consistent – It is important that you remain consistent with your child’s diet as they transition into adulthood. Have your child take a “before” and “after” picture of their diet to show them what they are missing out on.
Have fun while you eat – Eating well does not have to be a chore. In fact, keeping a healthy weight is the result of playing, entertaining yourself, and creating a healthy lifestyle. Eating well does not have to be boring or lonely either.
Have a great day, and try your best to eat well!