The Food Guide Pyramid can help you and your adolescent eat a variety of foods while encouraging the right amount of calories and fat. The pyramid below applies to anyone 6 years of age to adulthood. Consult your adolescent's physician for more information. Adolescents are becoming more independent and making many food decisions on their own. Many adolescents experience a growth spurt and an increase in appetite and need healthy foods to meet their growth needs.
Adolescents tend to eat more meals away from home than younger children.
They are also heavily influenced by their peers. Further, a common concern of many adolescents is dieting. Girls may feel pressure from peers to be thin and to limit what they eat. Arrange for teens to find out about nutrition for themselves by providing teen-oriented magazines or books with food articles and by encouraging them and supporting their interest in health, cooking, or nutrition. Take their suggestions, when possible, regarding foods to prepare at home.