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Bad & Unhealthy Food Pyramids for Teens

Teenagers are notorious for eating foods that are high in fat, sugar, calories and salt. These foods build a pyramid that may lead to health problems in the future. While all foods have some nutritional value and none should be completely forbidden, teenagers should be taught to make healthy choices for their bodies.

  1. Problems with the Healthy Food Pyramid

    • The current healthy food pyramid, produced by the United States Department of Agriculture, contains some flaws, say some experts. It has been in existence for more than 20 years. The top of the pyramid suggests that fats and oils be used sparingly, but it does not distinguish between good fats such as olive oil and bad fats such as lard. The pyramid also does not distinguish between healthy carbohydrates and proteins, such as brown rice and beans, and those that are less healthy, such as processed white bread and high-fat cuts of beef, said scientists at Harvard University.

    Junk Food

    • Junk food is perhaps at the foundation of a unhealthy teen diet pyramid. This term refers to foods that are highly processed, very fatty and high in sugar and salt. Prepackaged snacks, such as chips, cookies and candy, are junk food that is sometimes common in a teenager's diet. Another culprit is fast food. Typically very high in fat and over-processed, fast food hamburgers and french fries are unhealthy foods that many teens often consume.

    Soft Drinks

    • Another layer of the teen unhealthy food pyramid is soft drinks. These come in single serving cans, are inexpensive and widely available. Teens often have unlimited access to machines that sell these drinks at their schools. Soft drinks have very high levels of sugar. As a result they are full of a lot of empty calories. They can be addictive as well, and some teenagers consume several cans every day.

    Fried Food

    • Another layer of the teen unhealthy food pyramid is fried foods. These are sometimes obviously unhealthy, such as in the case of french fries or fried carnival foods like cookies or cakes. Some foods that would otherwise be healthy choices, such as chicken or vegetables, lose their value when they are deep fried. Unlike junk food, which most people know is unhealthy, fried foods are sometimes presented as part of a meal that a teen might think is healthier than it really is. For instance, a teenager might consider a chicken sandwich at a fast food restaurant a healthier choice than a hamburger, even though it is deep fried in fat.

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