How to Teach Teens to Eat

Helping teens learn healthy eating habits ensures they get the nutrition they need during their teenage years, while their bodies grow and develop, and prepares them to spend their lives making good dietary choices. However, commercials for unhealthy food, time management issues, the availability of junk food, and social pressures to be thin encourage unhealthy eating habits in teenagers. Help your teenager make good choices by modeling good behavior, teaching her about nutrition, and providing healthy options.

Instructions

• 1

  Model good eating habits and a positive body image. For example; eat lots of fruits and vegetables, drink water or milk instead of soda, avoid eating to cope with stress, and don't criticize your own weight or appearance.

• 2

  Eat dinner together as a family. Turn off the TV and sit down together at the table. Family dinners provide an opportunity for teens to eat healthy food, improve family communication and reduce the chances your teen gets involved in drugs or alcohol.

• 3

  Teach teenagers how to read food labels, and that they know which nutrients they may need, such as calcium or iron.

• 4

  Provide healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, vegetables with hummus, fruit smoothies, low-fat cheese, cereal and yogurt.

• 5

  Avoid forbidding unhealthy foods. Instead, teach teens to have small amounts of treats, such as one can of soda per day or a small bag of chips along with a portion of fruit. In addition; teach teens to choose smaller portions at fast food restaurants.