Teens either prepare their body for future diseases or go on to enjoy a dynamic health for the major period of their life. The choice of type of food habit determines the fate. So healthy eating habits for teens is perhaps more important than grownups. Even more so because any serious disturbance in nutrition has irreversible effects on health. By the time they realize, the health is lost.
It is exactly like building a strong character in your formative period. Similarly you build a healthy eating habit during your teenage. You ride on your strength of character to success and then you need your health to enjoy that success. You need more reasons..?
Here are a few healthy eating habits for teens. These are habits, nothing to do with quality of food or nutrition.
- Get into the habit of chewing the food properly. Perhaps the most basic, but the most important eating habit one can culture. Half the gastric problem, indigestion is solved by doing this simple thing only. Somebody truly said the biggest of problems have the simplest of solutions.
- The tendency of overeating every time leaves no space for water or air. The digestion is not so smooth causing little uncomfortable gastric issues. Overeating your delicious dishes once in a while is fine, but avoid the tendency every time you start a meal.
- Drink at least 5-6 glasses of water daily. At this age teenagers notoriously skip this thing. Water apart from many other functions is needed for a basic one. Body metabolism gets hurt without proper supply of water. Remember it is water; it cannot be replaced with 8 glasses of fruit juices. Some advocate the fluid intake in any form. But the job of water cannot be replaced with juices.
- Do not drink water immediately after meal. Wait for at least half an hour after meal to take a glass of water. You can take a sip or two during the meal if you so feel like. Strictly avoid chilled water during or immediately after meal.
- Avoid taking colas on regular basis if you are so addicted. Taking soft drinks once in a while is fine but cut down strictly on the frequency. Even diet colas are no good.
- Find at least 15 minutes 4 days a week for exercise. If you are not into some sort of sports, then at least some stretching exercises are also good. This minimal exercise helps your body to grow at a normal pace. Body metabolism stays proper and effect of nutritious food is more on the body.
- Excessive coffee or tea must be checked. Cutting down on the frequency of coffee or tea, you can replace herbal tea once in a while.