Good nutrition is important for everyone, including growing teenagers. Most of them have a bad habit of eating junk food that has terrible effects on their health. Here are the top 8 healthy eating habits for teenagers for the best results.
1. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Don’t skip out on breakfast because it’s a good way to jumpstart your metabolism. Even better, you can curb your cravings for sweets and junk food for the entire day. Breakfast gives you more energy and improves your focus at school or work.
Even better, rather than sugary cereal, you need to opt for something with proteins and whole grains.
2. Don’t Skip Any Meals
Your body is still growing as a teenager so you shouldn’t go for a long time without proper nutrition. You should plan out your day accordingly and bring along some healthy snacks for the rest of the day. It’s a good way to keep your body fueled the entire day.
3. Cut Back On Sugary Drinks
As a teenager, you need to cut back on sugary drinks such as soda and numerous other beverages in the market. Most of these beverages have a high sugar serving and it’s too bad for your healthy. Reduce the number of sweetened beverages by at least half. If possible, you should replace them with water. If you want any beverage, you should opt for low-fat milk, unsweetened tea or any other healthy alternative compared to things with too much sugar.
4. Make Sure Your Eat From All Food Groups
Many teenagers often eat proteins and carbohydrates but miss out on the important food groups such as fruits and vegetables. It might be tough to eat anything from all the food groups but it’s a good idea to get at least one serving per day from all food groups. For instance, if you don’t like salads, you can opt for carrots or celery.
5. Avoid Eating Prepared Or Prepackaged Foods
Whenever you come across packaged foods, you need to read the nutrition label to find out more about the fat and sodium content. It’s also a good way to learn the type of nutrients present in the foods. If you are unable to pronounce some of the ingredients in the labels, chances are they are not nutritional.
6. Exercise
Besides choosing healthy food choices, you need to exercise every day for at least 10 to 15 minutes. However, exercise might not be necessary if you lead an active lifestyle. Whether it’s jumping rope, taking a walk or running in the morning, you need to exercise to improve your concentration and focus for the entire day.
7. Avoid Junk Food
Junk food is poor fuel for teenagers. Note that, junk food is contains a lot of fat, salt, sugar and very low fiber and useful nutrients. Eating a lot of junk food often leaves you feeling sluggish and might have a terrible effect on your skin. Therefore, you need to opt for healthy alternatives for the best results.
8. Eat Less Portions
As much as you are advised to eat healthy foods, you need to eat lesser portions. You shouldn’t skip on any meal during the day but make sure you eat less portions to maintain your weight. Note that, the teenage body is still growing and it’s most likely to suffer obesity if not checked. Therefore, it’s ideal to eat smaller portions and supplement your meals with healthy snacks such as fruits.
Teenagers are advised to eat healthy since they are still growing. Failure to take care of their young bodies might result in health issues in the future. Use these healthy eating tips for the best results.
