Healthy Diet for Teenagers For Raising Teens Healthily

Balance, variety and moderation should be the principle of a healthy diet for teenagers.



Variety is brought about by including all kinds of foods in each food group. Balancing the nutrients and the quantity is important. The quantity of food consumed should be in moderation to compensate for the expenditure. Avoidance of excessive eating of a particular food is useful. The craze for noodles and other refined foods, that are easy to prepare and easy to consume are preferred.



The preference for lentil soup and wheat tortillas, rice and vegetable Indian curry and the like has reduced. This is attributed to the decreased availability of time. The elders in the family also opt for easy preparation techniques, thereby forgetting all about a healthy teen diet.

How To Provide Healthy Teen Diet?

• A healthy teenage diet plan can be achieved by providing them with guidance and knowledge regarding healthy foods. Teenage is the time of transition from a child to an adult. They fail to take any care regarding their diet and are highly confused.
  
  
  
  
• The foods from the basic five food group prove helpful. Cereals and pasta forms the base of their intake. Whole grain breads, cereals like oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole grains with milk are very helpful in providing complex carbohydrates.
• About two servings of fruits is an ideal part of a healthy teen diet. Fruits help in providing the necessary phytonutrients and other antioxidants.
• Three servings of fresh vegetables in the canned or frozen form is also accepted, though wholesome and fresh food retain their nutritive value to the maximum. 
• Calcium is an essential mineral in the teenage diet, as they promote growth and other vital functions. About two servings each of milk and related products and animal foods are recommended.
• Yogurt, cheese and milk are helpful, especially skimmed in nature. Animal foods such as fish, chicken, eggs and meat are an essential part of a healthy diet for teens. Fish provide the much wanted omega 3 fatty acids.
• Chicken devoid of the skin is preferred, to avoid unwanted fat. The method of cooking is equally important. Grilling, boiling, pressure cooking, microwaving, simmering and broiling are better than deep fat frying.
• Lifestyle modifications such as smoking and alcoholic beverages should be completely abstained from.

Fast foods are the in-thing amidst teens. Teenagers fail to realize the importance of a healthy teenage diet and that fast foods are a faster way to gain any kind of disorders in the system. The preferences of teens play an important role in modifying their foods.



Their schedule includes a lot of junk foods, such as pizzas, french fries, potato wedges and so on. Their meal is incomplete without a carbonated beverage. They contribute to 'empty calories', thereby resulting in calories, devoid of any other essential nutrient. This increases the risk of teen obesity and other related disorders.

The knowledge of a healthy teen diet is essential to make teenagers aware about what to eat to keep themselves healthy.