Healthy Eating for a Teenage Athlete

Teenagers need more nutrients and vitamins than adults do, and teenage athletes require even more. Teenage athletes use up a lot of energy, and their dietary needs should be adjusted to compensate for this depletion. Making sure that your teenage athlete is getting the appropriate amount of nutrients and nourishment will not only ensure that your teenager stays healthy, but can also boost her athletic performance. Here are a few dietary guidelines for teenage athletes.

Animal Proteins

• Animal proteins, such as beef and chicken, ensures that your teenager will have the necessary proteins vital for muscle development and the rebuilding of muscle tissue.

Calcium

• Calcium helps the body rebuild and maintain bone growth and development. Increasing high calcium foods, such as milk and cheese, can help your teenage athlete keep his bones strong.

Good Carbs

• Since teenage athletes burn extra calories, make sure that they are getting enough fuel for their optimum performance. Increase the body's fuel by increasing their intake of complex carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta and wholegrain breads.

Good Fats

• Include good fats, such as olive oil and flaxseed oil, in your teenage athlete's diet to ensure that her mental functioning is at its prime.

Fiber

• Increase the fiber in your teenager's diet to help his digestive system work properly. Fiber is like nature's scrub brush--it helps clean the bowels and allows the body to absorb more nutrients.