A nutritious diet that supports a healthy body weight can enhance your teenager's physical and emotional wellness. Rather than encouraging fad diets which may pose serious health risks, the Mayo Clinic suggests espousing healthy eating habits for your entire family. Involving your teen in meal choices, grocery shopping and cooking can enhance her enjoyment and knowledge of healthy eating. Since weight loss is often a delicate issue for overweight teens, encourage a positive body image and self-esteem as well.
"Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess"
"Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess" by Catherine Wishart is a cookbook that teaches teen girls to develop healthy, positive attitudes regarding food, eating and body weight. Wishart encourages teens to rid themselves of the "diet mentality" and, instead, develop a style of eating they enjoy. Through an assortment of positively themed recipes, Wishart teaches teens to create healthy versions of less healthy favorite foods. The book emphasizes healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and encourages the ample intake of water and low-fat milk in place of sugary soft drinks. Wishart also encourages daily physical activity for emotional and physical benefits, which is an important aspect of teen weight management, according to the Mayo Clinic. Teen girls can also enjoy the book's beauty and fashion tips, such as wearing colorful clothes they feel terrific in. Since the "Teen Goddess" cookbook encourages empowerment and positive self-esteem, it may suit teens with emotional eating habits in particular.
"Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs"
Written by chef Rozanne Gold, "Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs" emphasizes a diet based upon fresh, healthy foods. The book teaches your teen how to replace processed foods, such as fast food, frozen pizza and potato chips with natural, nutritious alternatives, a technique encouraged by the American Dietetic Association for overweight teens. Gold's book includes recipes for main dishes, side dishes, beverages and desserts. Throughout the book, Gold includes basic cooking and food preparation tips, such as how to boil eggs and roast vegetables. The book is filled with colorful photos of foods and the various steps of the cooking process, which can ease the process for teens who learn best from visual cues. Gold includes a variety of popular dishes, including pizza, pasta dishes, soups and pancakes, all with healthy adaptations from conventional recipes, such as using whole grain flour in place of enriched flour and lean ground turkey in place of beef.
"The Diet for Teenagers Only"
"The Diet for Teenagers Only" is a cookbook and weight loss guide by Barbara Schroeder and Carrie Wiatt. Though geared toward teenage girls, the recipes and lifestyle tips suit teenage boys as well. Schroeder and Wiatt provide an overview of healthy weight and weight loss for teens and an assortment of recipes, each with grocery list and nutrition tips. The recipes encourage low-fat cooking techniques, such as baking, steaming and grilling, and an appropriate balance of nutrient groups. The book also addresses self-esteem, body image, food cravings and weight loss-friendly grocery shopping strategies. The recipes cover a broad range of foods with illustrations that represent appropriate serving sizes of muffins, macaroni and cheese, pizza and other dishes. The book aims to instill a dietary understanding in your teen that he can carry into adulthood. Schroeder and Wiatt also encourage regular physical activity for improved weight, physical health, brain function and mood balance.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Teen Weight Loss - Healthy Habits Count
- "Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess"; Catherine Wishart; 2003
- "Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs"; Rozanne Gold; 2009
- American Dietetic Association: Healthy Weights for Healthy Teens
- "The Diet for Teenagers Only"; Barbara Schroeder, Carrie Wiatt; 2005
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