About diet plans for teens

Having healthy diet plans for teens and children will instill good qualities that they will carry throughout their lives.

Healthy Diet Plans For Teens and Children

Healthy eating must be learnt and practiced from a young age, if one wants to grow into a healthy adult. Unfortunately many kids today are just too 'busy' to spare a serious thought towards food. Their schedules allow them enough time to grab a burgher or a hotdog for a meal. No wonder the obesity figures are rising among young people.

Some adults think children should not diet. This is not necessarily true. As long as the child sticks to a solid diet program that does not deprive the body of the main food groups, it's not a problem. Of course a good dietician needs to be consulted before getting a child on any diet program. Never depend on online diet plans or free advice given on websites. They just exist to add to the knowledge given to you by a nutritionist.

Here are some of the food types that need to be included in any diet plan for kids:

1. Diary foods- milk (preferably skimmed), curd, yoghurt, cheese. The calcium found in this food group is essential for the development of bones and teeth.

2. Baked meat- Avoid fried meat as these add on the pounds and the cholesterol. Stick to red meat/lean meat like chicken. It's a good way to get proteins.

3. Fish- Small fish contain calcium. Then salmon and tuna contain the much talked about omega-3 fatty acids which help to regulate cholesterol. Fish too are a good source of proteins. Avoid big fish, like shark, as they may contain heavy metals which are poisonous to the body.

4. Salads- They are a great addition to any meal because they consist of a variety of vegetables. You can just see the variety in all the colors- lettuce, cucumber, tomato, carrots, celery, etc. Use fresh vegetables.

5. Good carbohydrates- These have a low Glycemic Index, meaning they break down slowly and are not high in sugar. They are found in whole grain.

6. Good fat (unsaturated fats) - This is found in raw nuts, olive oil and avocado.

7. Fruits- Like veggies, fruits can be consumed as a salad which eases absorption and gives the body a variety of antioxidants. Mix banana, papaw, apples, oranges, peaches so that you don't bore the body with the same thing everyday.

Diet plans for kids can be created by combining the above food groups in various ways. There is no one diet plan that works magic. Parents, especially mums, know the food preferences of their kids and that if a diet plan is to be effective for a kid, they have to like what is on the menu. So mums can easily prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner to include nutritious food and mix and match different food groups to make the menu interesting. Remember to keep in mind the habits of your children. If they are active, they need more energy than a child whose favorite pastimes are watching TV, reading or sitting at the computer.

Article Summary - Instead of trying to explain the various diet plans available for children, this article lists the food types that need to be in a diet plan for young ones. This way mums can figure out how to create a meal plan that suits their child's taste and, eventually, will reap results.