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Healthy Eating Tips for Teens

You know your teen eats things that your probably wouldn't approve of—especially when he or she visits friends or is at school. You want to make sure that your teen eats healthy, but you are not sure how to enforce these eating habits. At this age, nutrition is very important. It fuels the body and as your teen grows, healthy eating habits can make the different between a healthy body image and poor self esteem. If this is not enough, your teen needs a good varied diet to maintain healthy and smooth skin. The following are tips you can share with your teen when he or she wants to try out a healthier diet.

Start with breakfast:

You have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your teen needs a good meal to fuel the day. There are tons of things that your teen can grab and eat as they head out the door. Oatmeal bars and whole grain breakfast bars are perfect. They are usually high fiber and filling. A smoothie or shake is also an easy breakfast (and after school snack, too). Add in a little soy powder or protein powder to make it more filling and healthy. Your teen can also toast a whole grain waffle and top it with fresh fruit or peanut butter for a quick and filling breakfast. If your teen has time, think about eggs. Boil eggs in advanced and leave them in the fridge for a fast breakfast.

Plan a good lunch:

The school cafeteria is not always a good place for a healthy meal. Many school cafeterias will offer salad and potato bars. If you can stay away from the high fat dressing, and butter, these are great choices. If you are having a hard time choosing a healthy lunch, then take your own. A good sandwich made with whole grain bread, veggies and lean meats are good choices. You can also take a turkey wrap or a wrap filled with your favorite vegetables. These are all low fat choices that will fill you up. You will want to avoid greasy and high fat foods as well as snacks that are full of sugar. Also, consider drinking water. Sodas are full of sugar and will ruin any plan to go for a healthier lifestyle.

When teens get home from school, they want to have a snack before dinnertime. This is where you can really help your teen make good choices. Fill your pantry and fridge with plenty of choices. Low fat yogurt topped with fruit or granola are great snacks. Frozen fruit pops are also good. You can also keep fresh fruits and vegetables as well as granola bars, fruit bars and frozen yogurt.

With a little planning, you can help your teen find a way to eat healthier. Just remember that your teen is barraged with bad food choices all day, so you can teach your teen good choices and make sure he or she eats well at home.