Passage 4
Adolescence is a time of rapid growth; in fact, teens gain almost 50 percent of their adult weight
during the adolescent years. Yet they are less likely to eat a balanced diet than a
ny other age group.
Teens know it‟s important to eat right
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but many don‟t understand basic nutrition. They skip
breakfast and chose too many high
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fat foods when snacking or eating at fast
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food restaurants. Perhaps the
worst offenders are teenage girls
who diet all the time, avoiding healthy foods they think are “too
fattening.”
Good eating habits begin in early childhood, and that‟s when parents should start setting a good
example. During the teenage years, however, parents have to be more subtle about
guiding food choices.
They can‟t control what teens eat
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or don‟t eat
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during the day. But they can offer healthy choices at
home.
Teens are impulsive eaters, usually munching on what‟s right at hand. So stock the refrigerator with
healthy snacks (j
uice, cheese, or fruit). Serve a nutritious dinner (this may be the only time of day your
teen is offered vegetables) and try to make mealtime enjoyable. Also, be flexible about the time you eat
dinner,
taking into account
a teenager‟s often hectic schedul
e.
If your teenager avoids healthy foods because she thinks they‟re fattening, nagging won‟t help.
Many experts believe this is the time for parents to step back, while continuing to offer healthy
alternatives. Calorie
-
conscious teens can be encouraged to
eat fruits, cottage cheese and yogurt. Skim
milk and fruit juice (calcium
-
enriched for extra nutrients) are other good choices.
Getting teens to eat right can be a tough task
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but don‟t give up. Now more than ever is the time to
teach them:
You are wha
t you eat
.