Very-low-calorie diets and diets that eliminate certain groups of foods are not healthy choices for the still-growing teenager. Teens need to make sure that they get enough calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to support their continued growth and development, according to the Nemours Foundation's Teens Health website. A healthy diet plan should include a variety of foods--from all of the food groups--teens enjoy eating. Teens should consult with a physician before starting any diet plan.
USDA MyPyramid Plan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid Plan is based on the most up-to-date scientific research linking health and nutrition. It is designed to provide teens with the tools they need to eat a healthy diet. The MyPyramid Plan will create a personal diet for teens based on their weight, height, age, sex and activity level. The plan includes calorie needs and serving suggestions from each food group. It also provides helpful information on proper serving sizes, good food choices from each group and preparation suggestions. The MyPyramid Plan also includes an online food tracker teens can use to see how they are doing.
Shapedown
Shapedown is a group-based weight-management program. Teens and their parents meet once a week for 10 weeks to learn how to be more active and eat better. Shapedown was developed by the faculty at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, and each Shapedown site is run by trained professionals. The diet plan for the Shapedown program is described as gentle and not overly restrictive so that teens do not feel deprived. Shapedown emphasizes the importance of family support and encourages parents to be as involved in the program as the teen. Teens usually lose 1 to 2 lbs. a week following the program, according to the Shapedown website.
Go, Slow and Whoa
Go, Slow and Whoa is a tool parents can use to teach their teens how to make better food choices. It was developed by the National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. It divides foods into three categories based on how often teens should eat the foods. Teens can eat as many Go foods as they want because Go foods are low in calorie and high in nutrition, according to Kids Health. Go foods include fruits, vegetables and whole-wheat bread. Teens need to limit their intake of Slow foods to a few times a week. Slow foods contain more calories than Go foods and are less nutritious. Slow foods include pancakes, vegetables with sauces, and dried fruit. Teens who eat too many Whoa foods are more likely to gain weight, according to Kids Health. Whoa foods are high in calorie and include whole milk, french fries and fried chicken.
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