Are Parents Responsible for Their Teen's Eating Habits?

As the years tick by, your teen is gaining more of a voice about what he likes and is willing to do, including what he puts into his body. If you̵7;re ready to throw your hands up in defeat over the debate about healthy foods and eating habits, consider a few factors first. Familiarizing yourself with your situation and the available options, you may be able to approach this topic more proactively and successfully.

  1. Independence

    • The teenage years are a time for your child to figure out who he is and what he enjoys. He will be claiming more power over his choices as he gains more independence. As the American Academy of Pediatrics points out, parenting your teen through this phase of his development can be frustrating, exasperating and stressful at times, but it also has its joyful moments. You may have to learn to let some of the small stuff go, like the battle over eating broccoli or the no-snacking-before-dinner rule, otherwise you will be fighting a never-ending battle.

    Availability

    • Since you̵7;re the one stocking the fridge, you have obvious control over what is available for your teen's next food raid. If you want him to make healthy food choices, don̵7;t buy bags of potato chips and cases of soda. Choose easy grab-and-go foods, such as cheese sticks, yogurts, baby carrots with low-fat ranch dip cups, pre-sliced celery sticks and peanut butter, mandarin orange cups, apples, bananas, trail mix and granola bars. The more convenient and visible the foods are, the more likely he will snag them when hunger strikes.

    Healthy Food Advocate

    • You may not realize it, but you are still a big influencing role model in your teen̵7;s life. Planning a regular family mealtime can be very helpful in your pursuit for healthy living. A report by the Council of Economic Advisers explains the importance of family mealtime as a way to stay connected and involved with teens; It is also a time to advocate healthy choices. The AAP also points out that teens are more likely to make healthy food choices if they see their parents doing the same. This can be your subtle, yet powerful, means of influencing your teen̵7;s eating habits.

    Education

    • You can educate your teen on nutrition and proper eating habits. This doesn̵7;t guarantee compliance, but at least the facts are available for him to make an informed decision. He needs to know what and how much he should be eating. According to AAP, teen boys typically need 2,800 calories per day and teen girls typically need 2,200. Explain to your teen that he needs protein, carbohydrates and dietary fats in his diet. Lean protein sources, such as turkey, chicken, tuna, eggs, beans and low fat cheese are nutritious choices for a teen̵7;s growing body. Carbs should make up about 50 to 60 percent of his diet. He should shoot for complex carbs that provide sustained energy and help him feel full, like whole grain bread, tortillas and pasta, brown rice and oatmeal. Healthy fats come in the form of avocados, olive oil and nuts, but should be kept to about 10 percent of his diet.

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