Help forTeenagers who diet to avoid being prone to eating disorders

Children need to learn from the earliest ages how to eat nutritionally so that they will be less likely to develop eating problems later in life. Recent studies by the American dietetic association conclude that teenagers with severe dieting habits have a higher incidence of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. These eating disorders often continue into adult life and can be a cause of later nutritional deficiencies as well as obesity and health problems. It is important for adults to include nutrition education and here are tips for doing that (Be sure they are exercising..this is a youtube video of Melissa doing chest and back workout)...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7LpZkq0tQU 1) Have regular meal times where the family eats together. Eating healthy food is just as important as working out for keeping a healthy weight. The cook can explain the meal to everyone and what nutrients are supplied in the meal and what makes the meal balanced and what makes a proper portion size. Without explaining these things, kids sometimes do not learn correct portion control or how to eat a range of different foods. 2) Eliminate soda and sugary foods from the grocery list. Too much sugar in the diet contributes to an unnaturally increased appetite. If kids are given water to drink with ice and lemon they will learn to enjoy the natural flavor of foods.  To give an occasional treat that is LIKE a soda, parents can mix a fruit juice with sparkling water and add ice and straw. 3) Keep fresh fruit and veggies cut up. Kids like cucumbers, celery, carrots and broccoli as well as Clementine's, grapes, apples, pears, bananas and peaches .Mix Peanut butter with orange juice for a dip and give the fresh fruit or veggies with that for snacks. There are now prepackaged snacks that are healthy such as apple slices and yougart dip with cheese and graham cracker sticks that kids will like as well. 4)Teach kids that when they want to eat, they should first drink water because often they are just dehydrated. Make sure kids are taking a multiple vitamin. 5) If a teenager wishes to diet, explain how most weight problems are the result of skipping meals and then overeating late in the day. Help the teenager prepare egg salad in advance that they can spread some of the egg salad on raisin toast for a fast breakfast with protein and carbs in the morning when they are in a hurry. Or teach them to fix a quick bowl of instant oatmeal and add walnuts and soy milk for a nutritional low fat breakfast. By eating early in the day, the teen will have the energy for concentration at school and will not be starving and overeat later in the day. 6) Avoid eating out at fast food places because the choices are usually not low fat or low calorie. Instead buy 100 calorie snacks of low fat cookies or chips and teach kids to snack on rice with veggies or frozen lean cuisine dinners that at least have a nutritional balance. Instead, make cooking with the kids fun and let them help shop for food, and teach them how to prepare and store food to keep it fresh and tasty.

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 September 2011 00:26