Healthy Eating Tips for Teens,Healthy Eating Tips for Teens
-We need around 2000-2400 calories daily, depending on our size and gender. -Teenage girls need more milk than the rest of the population. (3-4 servings). -Teenagers tend to eat a lot of junk food and often do not fulfill their daily nutrient requirements. -Most teenage girls do not eat enough foods from the “meat and alternatives” food group. -Many teenagers will skip meals to stay thin- but will end up binging on junk food when they finally eat again. -Many guys I know are addicted to fast food- like McDonald’s Hamburgers or they will have contests to see how many fast eddy’s burgers they can eat in a row. -Eating becomes a social activity in the teen years and peers have a great influence on what their friends eat. -If you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, your cancer risk drops by 20% -Half a million people would not have cancer each year if they ate better diets.
Some of the best foods to eat? Carrots, broccoli, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Garlic, Onions, Cabbage, Beets, Apricots, High-fibre bread, tofu, soybeans, and fruits.
These facts and others are alarming and we should do something to make sure that our own bodies are getting the foods they need to stay healthy. Lets look at some important nutrients a teen requires to be healthy:
Zinc- required for growth during adolescence. It can Iron- required especially in females and found in red meats and iron-fortified cereals. Iodine- Without enough of this, you can develop goiters. (Use iodized table salt) Vitamin D and Calcium- Get enough of it or you will be prone to osteoporosis in the future. Vitamin A has a wide range of benefits- including helping our immunities and improving our vision. Aim at 800 micrograms daily by eating carrots, liver and dairy products. Vitamin E alsom increase immunity. Fish Oil- many students had to line up regularly at school for a dose of castor oil or cod liver oil. It is supposed to make your heart healthier. Nowadays the schools don’t give all the students the dreadful dosing, but I am sure that it wouldn’t hurt to take it. Folic Acid- this helps your heart health and helps you to give birth to healthier children.
I could go on and on about these vitamins, but I am sure that you could find more thorough info online or at the library. My point here is that healthy eating is very important. Try to eat a healthy diet rather than taking supplements for
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