Now, more than ever, today’s teens are on the go. Between homework, after-school clubs, part-time jobs and sports practices, teenagers have very little time to think about their health and nutrition options. Although teens are gaining independence and making many of their own choices, they still rely heavily on parents to provide them with good examples and healthy food selections.

Rather than lecturing our teens on healthy food choices, we can be more successful by modeling the behaviors that we would like our teens to emulate. Try a few of the following tactics to keep your teen’s nutrition on track.

1. Instead of grabbing something through the drive-thru, plan ahead to be sure your family members have healthy snack options available.

2. If your teens have an interest in cooking, include them in meal planning and grocery shopping. This is a perfect opportunity to teach them about healthy selections and nutrition.

3. When talking to your teens about healthy food choices, emphasize the importance of obtaining their goals. Rather than discussing the risks of obesity, heart disease and cancer, focus on the advantages of healthy-looking skin and energy for sports and school performance.

4. Encourage your teens to drink more water, decrease their sugar and salt intake, and eat more chicken and fish.

5. Limit your junk food options and have plenty of quick, healthy snacks available for your on-the-go teen such as baby carrots, dried fruit, string cheese and orange slices. 

6. Coupled with a healthy diet, be sure to make exercise a part of your family routine. Consider including the entire family in a bike ride, a brisk walk after dinner or even a game of tennis. It is recommended that teens get 60 minutes of daily physical activity to strengthen muscles, build strong bones and to maintain a healthy weight; so eat healthy and get moving!

Source: WebMD