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Healthy Teens: Mission Possible
There's Hope for Healthy Teens
By Kendeyl Johansen
Let your kids know what they eat matters. "Just like computers -- garbage in, garbage out," Ely says. "If your kids want to feel good, get good grades, and enjoy their youth, they need to feed their bodies -- not stuff them with junk."
Unlike some nutritionists, Ely recommends removing unhealthy foods from the house when overweight kids are trying to diet. "Not that they will never have another potato chip again; I just think keeping this stuff in the house is a mistake," she says. Ely also stresses that obese teens need therapy. Just like a child with a speech impediment needs to visit a speech therapist and practice exercises at home, an obese child needs to be trained into a healthier, new lifestyle of eating right and exercising. "Statistics show that an obese child, with no change in lifestyle, will grow up into an obese adult with all of the related health risks," Ely says.
Convenience is the key to teen-friendly snacks. "With foods like baby carrots, teens can have a snack right away by just ripping open a bag," Ely says. She recommends pre-cutting raw veggies for quick access and providing a big bowl of washed fruit for kids on the go. "When my kids ask for a snack, I let them hit the fruit bowl first, she says. "Then maybe give them a fiber-filled muffin with cream cheese, and some raw veggies. After that they should be satiated."
Don't forget to encourage kids to drink water. "Most people, teens included, walk around in a state of semi-dehydration. It's easy to mistake thirst for hunger," Ely says. If a teen is still hungry after a healthy snack, have them down a big glass of water and wait 10 minutes. They'll probably feel full and not ask for more food.