If your teenager is overweight, a diet plan should be developed for the whole family. Fad diets that cut out certain foods or require an intake of a very low amount of calories is not healthy or realistic for sustained weight loss. Fad diets may lack iron, calcium and other nutrients that your teen needs states the Mayo Clinic website. Instead, a diet plan should contain foods with plenty of healthy nutrients with allowances for small amounts of treats.
Prevention/Solution
A diet plan for teens should not separate foods into good and bad categories, suggests the Kids Health website from the Nemours Foundation. Instead of completing cutting out foods, change portion sizes or substitute a favorite food item for a low-fat version. For instance, instead of a chocolate bar, eat a miniature version. In lieu of full fat dairy products, eat low-fat or fat-free versions on your diet.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be the most important meal for the teen's diet plan. A healthy breakfast jump-starts the teen's metabolism and may prevent him from overeating for the rest of the day, Mayo Clinic.com states. Instead of fatty options, serve fare, such as whole-grain toast with jelly, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk, fresh fruit and yogurt and nuts and seeds.
Lunch
When eating lunch in the cafeteria, your teen should still stick to a healthy diet plan. Ask her to avoid eating pizza and fries every day. Instead, request that she pack a lunch or choose lower fat lunchroom fare, like grilled chicken, salads, sandwiches with lean meats and fruits and veggies as side items.
Snacks
Snacks on a teen diet plan should be filling and low in calories. Instead of eating chips, candies and ice cream, encourage vegetable, fruit and protein snacks. Some ideas include pieces of low-fat cheese or fat-free cheese, low-fat yogurt, unbuttered popcorn, cut-up carrots, celery sticks, raisins and fruit salad.
Dinner
Dinner on a teen diet plan should be a family affair. Prepare low fat meals that include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats for the entire family. Limit fat in foods by cooking with non-fat cooking sprays or barbecuing, steaming or baking meals. Avoid eating fast food or pizza too often.
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