Many adulthood patterns become set in adolescence, and teaching teens to make healthy food choices will help them prevent future heart disease. A team of dietitians have identified effective methods for promoting fruits and vegetables over sugary treats.The best way found to help teens learn to make healthy food choices for themselves are household eating rules. Parents are key players in making sure that nutritious snacks are always available at home, that fruits are eaten at breakfast and vegetables with dinner, and that access to sugary snacks and sodas are limited.
Another effective method are adolescent behavior change strategies, aimed at 13-years and older, when teens begin to make more of their own independent choices. These strategies involve goal-setting and dietary journaling, to meet the recommended five a day fruit and vegetable serving guidelines.
1. This is spot on, though not particularly mind-blowing. I've struggled with my weight since I was 13 or so (I'm 20 now) and just this summer I've finally been able to start making an impact. The most useful thing for me is keeping track of everything I eat and setting weekly goals (e.g. run an extra mile this week, or run faster than last week). If you're just getting started and you're a computer person, I'd recommend FitDay.com. It's free and useful.
Posted at 9:20PM on Jul 13th 2006 by Michael