Active Teens – Diet & Activity Tips

Adolescents are probably having the most exciting time of their lives. They get excited noticing their beard and getting transformed into a man. They probably feel good taking in all the attention from the boys in their class.

This is their time. They are free to roam around the city, free to form opinions and free to snack on their favourite delicacies. However, it’s the responsibility of a parent on how they treat, rather train them for a fit life and get their body habituated to the right way of living. 

These are some of the things you can do to make sure that they follow a better lifestyle. 

What’s in the food?

• Teach them about healthy snacking 

Tricks to have a healthy yet tasty breakfast. At this moment, you can’t really ask them to control their cravings altogether. But you can control the portions and the amount of fried stuff in their snacks.

• Let them learn how to healthify their foods

Involve them while you cook. Teach them the value of adding a few nuts and beans to their fried rice or soyabean to their aloo tikkis!

• Experience over instruction

Let them watch their sugar intake. Ask them to reduce it for a couple of days, let them realise how does it make a difference. If they crave for sweets, make them a jaggery based dessert or involve cut fruits in their meals to satiate their sweet tooth.

• The power of five

Grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein. This should be the health version of LHS=RHS. Let their every meal have at least one component involving each of these. 

• Perception of health

Let them know that healthy doesn’t mean bland, healthy doesn’t mean not tasty. 

Make Exercising a way of life

Apart from diet, there are a few things you would love to inculcate in them while they are growing. They don’t really need to gym, at this age, their metabolism is good. They can digest foods better than their older counterparts. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to work out. Pull out what excites them? If they love cricket, let them play. If they claim to be a water baby, encourage them to swim. If they are an indoor sports fan, let them be a badminton player. Chances are they would want to go to the gym and make muscles. In this case, allow them but under moderation. Make sure they have the right trainer. 

Teen years are an impressionable part of their lives when their personalities get shaped. It’s the time when they form habits and attitudes. It’s your duty to give them a solid foundation- help them internalise the right habits and let them adopt a healthy and happy lifestyle!