Nutrition Requirements for Tweens

Posted by Denise Oliveri Aug 16, 2007

I feel pretty thankful that my boys do not howl and complain when they are told to eat their vegetables. In fact, they like a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The problem is, these foods are not the first thing they reach for when they want a snack. Oh yes, they are classic junk food "junkies." I guess I blame myself for that mostly because I do the grocery shopping for the household.

Statistics show that kids between the ages of 8 to 13 gain an amazing 6.5 pounds a year on average, and approximately 2" in height. You can just imagine how important it is for them to eat a well-balanced diet to help them grow properly.

Here are some guidelines to help make sure your child is getting the proper nutrients and calories needed during these growing years:

• Definitely get to know the new food pyramid to see what the recommended daily servings are, and make sure you have enough choices that your child will have things he likes to eat to choose from.
• While vitamin supplements do have their benefits, do not try to "make up" for lost nutrition by adding more vitamins to your child's diet. The majority of vitamins and minerals should come from healthy foods.
• The key is moderation. You don't need to cut out fun foods completely. In fact, a tween's body needs a certain amount of fat to stay healthy. Just limit how much of it he eats.
• The best advice is to talk to your child's family doctor or pediatrician for their recommendations.

Nothing can take the place of a proper diet and physical activity. When there is a combination of these two factors, your child has a much better chance of keeping healthy habits as an adult.