Are you struggling with the unhealthy eating habits of your young adolescent? If yes, then this article will be helpful for you.
Teenage is a time of enormous changes that prepare teens for adulthood and independent living. Adolescence is the time when your kids’ habits are changing in the company of influential peers. They make their own food choices, and the food they eat can impact their health. Adolescents misuse the opportunities for good nutrition by dumping on foods that help boost their development and growth. It’s up to you to provide your kids with right nutritious foods.
Here are some tips on how to go about doing that.
- Â Â Â Change is needed
Do not try to make instant changes in your teenager’s diet. Take small steps like adding a vegetable or fruit to every meal. Do not think that you need to do everything in one day, do not be overwhelmed by it, you cannot change the entire eating habit in a day. Slowly and steadily bring changes in the diet by adding healthy nutritious food to your teenager’s meal. Purchase more real, unprocessed foods (whole grains, lean meats, and dairy).In addition to that try to find healthier alternatives for your kid’s favorite processed items.
- Â Â Â Put healthy food items in the fridge
You cannot keep your eye on your teenager’s diet the whole day; you have no idea what junks your kid is eating. What you can do is provide the majority of homemade food, give them a lunch box packed with homemade items. Make some snacks when they get back to home after school. Put healthy stuff in the fridge so they can open the door and eat something healthy. You can put apples, carrots, peanut butter, ranch dressing, whole-wheat pita chips, cut-up fruit, Greek yogurt, etc. in your fridge.
- Restrict them from abusive addiction
Teenagers quickly get into abusive addictions by influencing their surroundings. Some teens start drinking alcohol because they think it’s cool and classy; some may get a victim to addictive drugs, all these addictions will throw water on your entire efforts of maintaining their healthy diet. These health killer addictions will ruin your adolescents’ health. Let their not-so-great choices drop, unless it becomes their norm.
- Â Â Â Teach them about food choices
It is essential to teach your teenagers about eating the right kinds of foods. Present the importance of healthy eating in the ways that are relevant to your teen’s interests and needs. Do not try to impose your opinions on them; forcing them to change their eating habits just because it’s good for them may drive them to pick up even unhealthier habits. Assist them rather than controlling them.
Above all, be an example for your kids by doing all the things you want them to follow, by yourself. You can be their role model, and they learn most from watching what you do, rather than what you say.
Best of luck with your parenting!
