Good and healthy nutrition is important for everyone and it is especially important for the growth of teenagers during those adolescent years. A teenager’s body goes through different physical changes and these changes need to be supported with a healthy diet. By eating a healthy diet, teenagers will get all the energy and nutrients from foods and drinks, which will allow the body to grow and develop properly. A healthy diet doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods. You have to eat a variety of foods and cut down on drinks and food, which are high in sugar and fat, like soft drinks, cakes and chocolates. Foods like these must be consumed less often and in small amounts.
Here are some important diet tips to eat and stay a Healthy Teenager–
- Never skip the breakfast: One of the biggest myths is skipping meals will make you slim. It doesn’t. Skipping a meal means missing out on important nutrients. Breakfast gives vitamins and minerals at the start of your day. Never miss it.
- Stay hydrated: Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water or other healthy fluid like milk, every day. You can also have unsweetened fruit juice, but not more than a glass because it is sugary.
- If you feel tired: If you feel tired, it could be due to lack of iron in your body. This normally happens in teenage girls because they lose iron during their period. Have foods which are rich in iron like red meat, breakfast cereals and bread.
- Vitamin D and Calcium: Vitamin D and calcium helps in building and keeping bones and teeth healthy. You easily get vitamin D from Sun but you can also get it from different types of foods. Eat leafy green vegetables, drink milk and different types of dairy products to get calcium.
- Have your “5 A DAY”: Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A DAY. Aim to eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Vegetable and fruits are good sources of many mineral and vitamins which are essential for a teenage body.
- Don’t each too much: Do not fill your stomach with heavy meals. Try to reduce the size of your meals to a limit which doesn’t make you feel full. Eat less and eat healthily.
A teenager eating junk food or unhealthy food is more likely to put on weight than a teenager who eats healthy food. A healthy diet boosts your intake of nutrients, which are very important for a teenage body. Try to keep your diet healthy and you’ll have a healthy teenage life.
