Healthy Eating for Teens

Healthy Eating For Teens
Healthy eating is the best way to:
Have energy all day long
Get the nutrients you need to reach your maximum height
Have clearer and healthier skin
Have strength and endurance for sports and activities
Maximize your academic performance
Maintain the weight range that is best for your body
Get the vitamins and minerals you need to maintain good health
What is “healthy eating”
Aiming for regular meals and snacks
Getting most of the major food groups each day to meet your needs for growth,
development and health
Choosing mainly nutrition-rich foods and having other foods like sweets and fast
foods in moderation
Eating when hungry and stopping when you are full
Learning about nutrition and making your food choices ONE of the important parts of
your life
Tips for healthy eating:
Don’t skip meals– skipping meals makes you lack energy, promotes weight gain and
causes you to miss out on important nutrients for your growing body.
Plan for meals and snacks– keep a few healthy items on hand to use to make quick
meals or snacks. Throw a few healthy foods in your backpack to prevent you from
hitting the vending machine or fast food restaurants.
Read food labels– look for foods that are low in calories, fat and sugar and high in
vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods that have partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats)
in the ingredient list.
Eat high sugar & high fat foods in moderation– eating smaller portions of your
favorite foods and beverages less often (i.e. fast foods, sodas, candy, chips) will
satisfy your craving, but won’t replace other nutrient-dense foods in your diet.
Aim for balanced meals– a balanced meal contains at least 3 different food groups
and provides necessary vitamins and minerals for growth, athletic & school performance
and overall health.
Choose foods close to their natural state: foods that are less refined offer more
vitamins and minerals than more processed foods.