Teach your teen the difference between a crash diet and a healthy eating and exercise program. If your teen wants to lose weight, she may be tempted to try a starvation diet that involves eating very limited calories in order to lose weight quickly. These diets are unhealthy and provide unsustainable weight loss. Instead, show your teen the healthy way to lose weight and keep it off. Talk to your teen's doctor before changing her eating or exercise plan.
Eat Breakfast
Although your teen may say she's too busy for a bagel or she may turn up her nose to cottage cheese, make breakfast mandatory every single day. Adapt breakfast to fit your teen's schedule. If she's constantly late in the morning, pack her a container of yogurt with a small plastic bag of sunflower seeds, almonds and fruit. If your teen has a few minutes to sit down for breakfast make her an egg white omelet with veggies or oatmeal with fruit on top. She'll be less likely to snack later in the day if she starts the day with a nutritious breakfast.
Exercise With Friends
Don't make exercise a boring chore. Instead of forcing your teen to go to the gym every day for an hour, get her friends involved. Chances are your teen's friends are also concerned about losing weight and staying healthy. Ask her to call a few friends who may be interested in playing sports, running or hiking with her. They'll keep each other motivated and have fun while they burn calories.
Eat All Day
The idea that you have to starve yourself in order to lose weight is a common misconception. Your teen doesn't have to feel deprived or hungry all day. Encourage her to eat six small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. Keep the kitchen stocked with a variety of healthy snacks, like low-fat string cheese, yogurt, fruits, veggies and whole-grain crackers. When healthier options are available, your teen may be less likely to binge on junk food.
Get Active
If your teen would rather sit in front of the TV than go outside, break her of the habit as soon as possible. Encourage her to adopt a more active lifestyle, but don't expect her to start doing it all by herself. Instead, lead by example --- bond with your teen by going for an after-dinner walk around the block or going for a weekend bike ride together. Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator when you go shopping together. This way, your teen will see you, too, are making the choice to become more active and she may follow suit.
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