How To Make Healthy Diet Fun For Teenagers

~ Dr. Patrick Mbajekwe

For both their developing bodies and minds, a healthy diet for teenagers is critical. And today, most teens know they need to eat well to feel and look great.

Unfortunately, obstacles like video game sessions, bags of chips and carbonated soda all seem to thwart best intentions. Rather than forcing a bland diet of flax seed and spinach on your teen, you should think more creatively to help make healthy diets a positive and appealing experience.

To learn how to develop a habit of healthy eating as part of your child's everyday life rather than a chore to be endured, keep reading.

Have Healthy Bit-Size Snacks Ready

When your teens arrive home from school, they are often ravenous. They likely skimped on breakfast, maybe grabbed a quick lunch around noon, and now need something (anything!) in the stomach before dinner - and there will be little patience for taking time to make a healthy snack.

Instead of having too-tempting snacks like chips or pizza waiting at typical snacking times, provide your teens with handy and healthy alternatives. Foods such as baby carrots, humus and pita or pre-popped popcorn are all great treats that your teen can grab quickly, enjoy, and find satisfying.

Remember, the less work involved in the preparation, the more likely a young person is to eat it. (Isn't that also true of most of us?)

Make Breakfast Easy

A healthy diet for teens starts with breakfast. A young adult who is running on empty will not only suffer with less ability to focus and concentrate in school, but he or she is also more likely to indulge in cafeteria and vending machine temptations later, such as french fries and chocolate bars.

Instead, provide easy-to-grab breakfast items that include organic granola bars (not the ones covered in chocolate), granola with yogurt, or a variety of cereals to be ready for those long mornings.

Keep in mind that "breakfast" is the breaking of an overnight fast, so that is the most critical meal of the day.

Pack a Lunch

Let's face it - most teens won't pack their own lunches. Instead, they tend to indulge in whatever is available at the school lunch room or nearby fast food restaurant that's not only much more expensive, but also very fattening. Support your teen's healthy diet by helping to make and pack lunches that are nutritious and tasty.

A great salad with chickpeas, scrumptious dressing and a few slices of chicken makes a fantastic lunch. Add sides like yogurt, low-sugar snacks or rice cakes to round out the meal.

Talk About Fast Food

Most fast food is overly processed and filled with sugars, salt, and saturated fats. Instead of telling your youngsters to steer away from fast food, discuss with them about healthy options available at many fast food restaurants.

For example, a well-rounded and healthy diet for teenagers could easily include a sub sandwich from Subway, a chicken salad from Wendy's or even a roasted chicken wrap from McDonald's.