Proper nutrition can help kids and teens ward off fatigue and help improve their ability to focus and achieve success in different areas of their life. Much of what children and teens eat is controlled by their caregivers; therefore, it is important that caregivers work to ensure child and teens receive proper nutrition.
Significance
When kids and teens learn about proper nutrition early in their lives, this can lead to positive health benefits later on in their lives. According to FamilyDoctor.org, having high cholesterol and/or being obese as a child can lead to health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Consequences
Improper nutrition can result in children and teens becoming obese. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, obesity that results from poor diet and lack of physical activity causes 300,000 deaths per year and if children are obese they increase their chances of being obese as adults.
Tips
Parents can help kids and teens eat nutritionally rich foods by having these foods available for them to eat. Providing teens and children with easy access to healthy snacks such as fruit slices or low-fat cheese slices can make them more likely to eat them. Also, junk foods such as chips, sugary sodas and candy should not be brought into the house. In addition, parents should focus on providing a variety of food sources to children and teens; this will increase the amounts of vitamins and minerals they receive, notes FamilyDoctor.org.
Specifics
Variety is a very important aspect of getting kids and teens proper nutrition, notes HelpGuide.org. Children and teens should consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, six to 11 servings of whole grains from a variety of sources such as pasta, bread, rice or oats, about two servings of proteins that do not contain high amounts of animal fats such as fish, poultry, fish, nuts and soy products,and two to three servings of calcium-rich foods such as dairy products, according to HelpGuide.org.
Considerations
Junk food should be avoided in children and teens. There are many alternatives that children and teens can eat that are just as tasty, but more nutritious than junk foods. Teens and children should be encouraged to eat baked varieties of foods such as chicken or fries as opposed to fried varieties, notes HelpGuide.org.
When eating out, encourage children and teens to make healthy decisions with their food choices such as chicken or spaghetti with tomato sauce. Also, avoid unhealthy beverage choices.
Those involved in the life of children and teens should model nutritional eating habits. Parents, teachers and coaches need to help educate children and teens on how to eat right by discussing their healthy eating habits with them.
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