Dietary Needs Of A Teenager

As a teenager your body is going through many physical changes changes that need to be supported by a healthy balanced diet.

Dietary needs of a teenager. A d e and k. During adolescence the body needs more calories than at any other time in life according to the american academy of pediatrics. The calories and protein needed for growth are higher if your teenager is active in sports or fitness programs. The physical changes of adolescence have a direct influence on a person s nutritional needs.

A teenager who indulges in a fat heavy diet is going to put on weight even if he s active. If you make yourself vomit or use diet pills or laxatives to control your weight you could have signs of a serious eating disorder and should talk with your health care professional or another trusted adult right away. The amount of calories and protein that your teenager needs each day depends on his age and weight in kilograms. A guide for teenagers.

But these benefits must be considered next to its many adverse effects on health. By eating a varied and balanced diet as shown in the eatwell guide you should be able to get all the energy and nutrients you need from the food and drink you consume allowing your body to grow and develop properly. Adolescents need additional calories to provide energy for growth and activity. Take charge of your health.

Being a teenager can be fun but it can also be difficult as your body shape changes. Fat supplies energy and assists the body in absorbing the fat soluble vitamins. As your body is still growing it s vital that you eat enough good quality food and the right kinds to meet your energy and nutrition needs. Boys ages 11 to 18 need between 2 500 and 2 800 calories each day.

Divide your teenager s weight in pounds by 2 2 to figure out what he weighs in kilograms kg. Teenagers need additional calories protein calcium and iron. The need for iron increases with rapid growth and expansion of blood volume and muscle mass. Nutritional needs may also vary by gender.

They need extra nutrition to fuel these physical changes which means they need to eat healthy food. Your child s level of physical activity and stage of development determine exactly how much healthy food she needs. The onset of menstruation imposes additional needs for girls. Adolescents should be encouraged to consume iron rich foods green leafy.

As boys gain lean body mass at a faster rate than girls they require more iron than girls. Fat should make up no more than 30 of the diet. Eating healthy food is important at any age but it s especially important for teenagers. Although specific calorie needs vary the aap suggests that the average teenage boy get about 2 800 calories per day and the average teenage girl get about 2 200.

An fda campaign offering information for youth encouraging them to seek out the nutrition facts on the food label understand the information it provides and use it for making healthful choices.