Learning valuable nutrition information during the teenage years can be beneficial to your health later on in your life. Incorporating good nutrition into your lifestyle is easier than you think: The key is variety. The more variety in your diet, the easier it will be to get the nutrients you need.
Basics
Good nutrition is especially important during the teenage years. During the teenage years, growth and development occur at a rapid rate, with teens gaining about 50 percent of their adult weight during this period. All of a teen's nutritional requirements increase, according to the informational website Helpguide.
Facts
Teenage boys should consume 2,500 to 2,800 calories per day, and girls should stick to 2,200, notes HelpGuide. Other aspects of teen nutrition that are especially important include getting at least 1,200 mg of calcium, 45 to 60 g of protein and 12 mg of iron for boys and 15 mg for girls.
Specifics
You should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Six to 11 servings of whole grains such as whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain breads and brown rice and two to three servings of lean protein such as fish, poultry, beans, nuts or tofu should be eaten daily, reports HelpGuide. Calcium-rich products such as dairy should be limited to two or three servings a day.
Avoid any foods that are high in sugar such as soda and candy. Eliminate nutritionally deficient foods.
Significance
Good nutrition affects many aspects of your life. The website TeensHealth reports that what you eat will affect your mental functioning, emotions, energy level, weight and muscle tone.
It is important to take the time to understand your nutrition needs and think about how you can fulfill those needs through your daily eating habits.
Warning
If you are more focused on weight loss and body image than good nutrition you are at a heightened risk of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, notes HelpGuide. Development of an eating disorder will result in poor nutrition, because you will not eat enough or you will purge. If you think you have an eating disorder, see a doctor and/or mental health professional.
Member Comments