A Healthy Diet for a 14 Year Old to Eat

Three young teens are eating at a cafe.
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The average 14-year-old girl should consume approximately 1,800 calories each day, while a 14-year-old boy needs around 2,200 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a healthy diet, the majority of these calories should come from whole grains, lean protein, low- or nonfat dairy and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Seek help from a pediatrician or dietitian if you need help developing a nutritious eating plan for your 14-year-old.

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Fill Up on Fruits and Vegetables

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The USDA recommends that half of any meal a 14-year-old eats should consist of fruits and vegetables. Doing so should help girls consume the recommended 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 1 1/2 cups of fruit each day. Boys need to consume the recommended 3 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit daily. A teen's vegetables should be fresh or frozen and eaten raw or prepared with a low-fat method like steaming, grilling or stir-frying. Fruits should be fresh or canned in 100 percent fruit juice, not sweetened or packed in heavy syrup.

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Pick Lean Protein

About 25 percent of a 14-year-old's plate at a meal should contain a lean, protein-rich food. Skinless chicken or turkey, fish, shellfish, eggs, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, soy products and low-fat cuts of beef or pork can all fulfill this requirement. A 14-year-old girl needs 5 ounces daily; a boy of the same age should have 6 1/2 ounces. Each ounce is equivalent to one whole egg, 1/4 cup of cooked beans or legumes, 1/2 ounce of nuts or seeds and 1 ounce of meat, seafood or poultry. Teens should avoid fatty cuts of red meat and processed items like hot dogs or ham.

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Go for Whole Grains

Grains should make up the remaining 25 percent of a typical 14-year-old's meal. Each day, a girl in this age group should aim to consume 6 ounces of grains, while boys need about 8 ounces. A slice of bread, a small corn or flour tortilla, 1/2 cup of cooked cereal grains like rice or oatmeal, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta, 1 cup of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal and 3 cups of popcorn all count as 1 ounce. At least half of a 14-year-old's daily grains should be whole grains such as brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, quinoa, bulgur and whole-grain breads and tortillas.

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Include Dairy Daily

A serving of a calcium-rich food like dairy should accompany each meal, with 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 2 cups of cottage cheese, 1/3 cup of shredded cheese and 1 1/2 ounces of hard cheese like mozzarella or cheddar all counting as a single serving. A 14-year-old needs three servings of these foods daily. To avoid excess fat, teens should choose low- or nonfat over whole-milk dairy products. Vegan, vegetarian or lactose-intolerant teens who don't consume dairy products can get the calcium they need by regularly eating soy products, dark leafy greens like kale, canned salmon or sardines and calcium-fortified items such as some juices, breakfast cereals and plant milks.

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