Preteens need an adequate amount of nutrition each day to develop properly. This time in their lives involves a substantial amount of change in regard to their bodies, so good nutrition should be a priority. To ensure proper nutrition, preteens should eat well-balanced meals with the vitamins and nutrients necessary to support healthy growth.
MyPyramid Plan
The United States Department of Agriculture created the online MyPyramid tool to help educate kids and adults about how to eat healthy. MyPyramid can help preteens determine how many calories they should be consuming each day as well as the types of foods they should focus on. The food groups recommended by MyPyramid are based on research conducted by nutritional experts and published in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans report updated every five years. The primary food groups in this diet plan include whole grains, veggies, fruit, low-fat dairy and lean meats/protein sources. This diet allows for limited sweets and fattening foods. The MyPyramid diet plan is a popular choice for adolescents because it includes all of the essential vitamins and nutrients they need to develop properly.
SlimKids Low-Calorie Diet
Created by a former overweight preteen herself, registered nurse Laura Kraemer designed the SlimKids diet program as a way for kids and teens to get down to a healthy weight while still enjoying many of the foods they like, such as hot dogs and hamburgers. The focus of this diet is on limiting the number of calories consumed each day. Most daily meal plans included in this diet program equate to 1,500 to 1,800 calories. The types of foods recommended by the SlimKids diet are loosely based on the USDA's recommendations. The goal of this diet is to teach kids about portion control, healthy food choices and daily exercise.
Vegetarian Lifestyle
Living a vegetarian lifestyle free of meat products has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is even being recognized as a safe and healthy way to live by nutritional experts and organizations, such as the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association. For a vegetarian diet to be healthy, however, it must be done correctly. For instance, there are several vitamins and nutrients typically lacking in a vegetarian diet that MayoClinic.com points out should be paid special attention to. These nutrients include calcium, iodine, zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B-12 and D and protein. For preteens to get the proper nutrition they need, make sure they get plenty of leafy green vegetables, fortified soy products, vitamin-enriched cereals, nuts, tofu, broccoli, fruit, wheat germ and limited iodized salt. Consult your doctor or dietitian before beginning a vegetarian diet.
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