Many adolescent boys and girls in the United States are currently trying
to lose weight (36 and 44 percent, respectively). Of those, 30 percent of 2
Food Calories Fat (g) Fiber (g)
Veggie Burger 218 5 7
Hamburger 373 21 2
Homemade Bean Burrito 183 3 7
Fast-Food Chili-Cheese Burrito 363 21 2
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2010.
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 23. Nutrient
Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl.
Play with Your Food Art ©
girls and 18 percent of boys practice unhealthful or even dangerous
dieting methods.5
While dramatically restricting calories is effective at
lowering weight for the short term, calorie restriction can jeopardize
normal growth and development in children and adolescents, as other
essential nutrients from food will also be restricted. Further, excess
weight is usually symptomatic of poor dietary patterns that calorie
restriction alone will not address.
Instead, children (and adults) can simply switch to healthful foods.
Eating a diet built from fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, people
tend to feel satisfied with fewer calories. For example, when a child
chooses a veggie burger instead of a hamburger, he will save 180
calories. As an added benefit, the veggie burger has no cholesterol and
6 extra grams of fiber. A bean burrito loaded with lettuce, tomato, and
salsa has 135 fewer calories than a beef and cheese burrito, while still
providing all the nutrients children need. It is easy to make the switch
and well worth the time.
It is never too early to adopt a healthful diet or engage in an active
lifestyle. All children need fun physical activity and good nutrition
regardless of age or body size.