Nutrition 101 for Kids and Teens

Hey there! If you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware of the importance of a healthy diet for your children. This is essential if you want them to have a good life.

When your kids eat, nutrients are extracted from food. This is how their bodies turn food into energy, and energy is what they need in order to live, to do exercise, to think, and to laugh. Their organisms will let them know when they need food by sending them messages (hunger is one of those messages), and it will send them different messages when they’ve had enough food as well. That’s why it is important that they don’t go on eating when they’re not hungry.

Children and teenagers need the same nutrients that adults do, but in different amounts and proportions. Because they’re growing up, it is so important that they eat a variety of foods from each food group to ensure optimal intake of all vitamins and minerals.

You may want to keep an eye on what your children eat when they’re not at home. You should become familiar with the school menu if your child participates in the school lunch program, for example, but wouldn’t it be much better if your kids themselves cared about nutrition facts?

An old Chinese saying goes: Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a person how to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime. Education is stronger than vigilance. If your child becomes interested in food, he or she will never forget this basic knowledge. For this purpose, you can send them to cooking classes for kids. Then, they can help you pack lunches for school, including food that’s pleasing and fun to eat, as well as healthy, safe, and nutritious.

A well-balanced packed lunch might include a sandwich with whole wheat-bread and a lean, protein-rich filling, such as turkey chicken, tuna, egg, cheese, or peanut butter; fresh fruit and/or vegetables; low-fat or fat-free milk; and graham crackers, Jell-0, or another simple low-fat dessert. Be aware of food safety measures when packing your child’s lunch, such as keeping perishable foods well-chilled.

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