Read the text and decide whether the statements are T (true) or F (false)
NORMAL DIET FOR ADOLESCENTS – 12 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE
1. Changing Food Habits
Teenagers are often very busy with school, work, and sports schedules. Help your teenager plan his day if he cannot be home for meals. Send healthy snacks or packed lunches with him. This will help him avoid filling up on "junk" foods or high fat foods. They may need extra snacks to take with them or meals they can prepare quickly.
Your teenager still learns from your healthy eating habits. Be an example and praise his good food choices whenever you can. Never criticise the way your child looks at this time of life. Teenagers can easily become too worried about their body image. If they are eating too much or too little, it can affect their growth. Talk with your doctor if you are worried about your teenager's eating habits.
2. Food Group Choices
Give your teenager at least one serving per day of a high vitamin C food. Examples are citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, potatoes, and green peppers. Your teenager also needs one serving per day of a high vitamin A food.
This includes spinach, winter squash, carrots, or sweet potatoes.
Choose lean meats, fish, and poultry foods for your teenager. They are a source of proteins young people need in the period of growth. Also, give your teenager 2% milk and low-fat dairy foods. Avoid fried foods and high fat desserts; serve them only on special occasions. This will lower his risk for heart disease when he is older.
Parents should help their busy teenage children with planning their day.
