Lendon Smith's Diet Plan For Teenagers

Published in 1986, the diet book, "Dr. Lendon Smith's Diet Plan for Teenagers," was ahead of its time. Dr. Smith recognized the detrimental effect of refined carbohydrates and processed foods before this became a popular subject in diet books. Written in an friendly tone that is accessible to both teens and their parents, the "Diet Plan for Teenagers" provides generally healthy dietary advice, most of which is still highly relevant in 2011.

Body Image

Rather than encouraging teens to leap into a diet headfirst, Dr. Smith encourages them to think about their reasons for dieting. To this end, he discusses body image and eating disorders so that teens can build an awareness of what a healthy body looks and feels like. He helps teens to distinguish between different types of eating -- pigging out and binging versus snacking -- and to identify reasons for overeating that are unrelated to physical hunger. Smith offers teens a list of coping strategies along with healthy alternatives to fattening foods.

Quick Weight Loss Diet

Dr. Smith offers a variety of diet plans for teens, each tailored to meet a specific need. He tells teens how to take weight off rapidly with his "Quickest Weight Loss Diet," which is a balanced, low-calorie diet free of sugars and most fats. However, Smith does not address the idea that lasting weight loss is more likely to occur when weight is lost slowly and steadily. Chicken breasts, oatmeal, eggs, fruit and vegetables are prominently featured in this diet.

Complexion Diet

The "Improved Complexion Diet" emphasizes foods high in vitamin A. Smith recommends taking vitamin supplements of up to 100,000 mg of vitamin A each day for a month, a practice that is not supported by science as of 2011 as this amount of vitamin A has been determined to be toxic. The University of Maryland states that the upper tolerable limit for vitamin A is 10,000 mg. Any more, and people risk experiencing numerous side effects.

Other Diets

Recognizing that many teens have an active schedule, Smith also developed the "Teens-on-the-Run Diet," which offers a variety of healthy foods that you can literally eat on the way out the door. Sandwiches, muffins and smoothies play a large role. A "Nondairy, Nonwheat Diet for Allergic Teens" is also offered, as Smith states that as many as half of all people may have difficulty with cow's milk. The "Weight-Gain Diet for Boys (and Girls Too)" is presented as an option for teens who want to add weight. This diet provides larger servings and a higher percentage of carbohydrates than the others. Each diet has recommendations for vitamin supplements that can help teens with their particular issues concerning health and weight.