Some say that guiding children through their teenage years is the most challenging task parents face. I can see where that comment may be coming from but it's something I look forward to. I think all stages of parenting are different and challenging. When children reach their teenage years, they are experiencing many changes - mentally, physically and emotionally. So, it's no wonder that it can be a challenge for both teenagers and parents. Eating the right food, getting plenty of sleep and staying active are just a few tips for the health of a teenager. When teenagers reach about 12 yrs of age, they will have huge growth spurts. They can grow something like 10cm a year. So, as they grow into an adult, (19-20 yrs old), they require a lot of fuel. They may seem constantly hungry. So, it's best to have healthy food readily available.
When we get up for breakfast, we have all been without food for 8-10 hours. So, for teenagers a good breakfast is very important. I can't understand people who don't eat breakfast, or people who eat their breakfast as they drive to work in the morning. It's very important to have a good lunch and dinner. Lunch can be eaten as we are doing whatever we are doing. Something like a salad sandwich or filled roll. This is a good way to have vegetables. My children have yoghurt a lot of the time, like I did when growing up. So, dinner time. . . 50% of a plate should be vegetables. Like myself, a lot of boys enjoy steak. I am this way because I grew up in a Dairy Farming family. But, we all need our vegetables. Stir-fries and casseroles are also good ways of provided different types of vegetables. Homemade pizza's and burgers are also enjoyable. Doing these at home is a lot healthier and cheaper than eating out / getting takeaways. If your child says they are still hungry after they have just had a meal, they can always have more fruit or vegetables. I limit the amount my children eat in the afternoon. Maybe just one biscuit when my son gets home from school. But, if he wants to have an orange or an apple, that's fine.
It's important that children are active. I can't stand the idea of iPads, iPods. . . whatever you call them. I'm determined that my children will never have any of them. If they do, they won't spend too much time on them. Currently, our son spends a couple of hours a week on the computer. The games that he plays are educational. Growing up, my family never had anything like a PlayStation. It's insane the amount of time people spend with their mobile phones in their hands. Technology is great in what it can do for us, but it is also part of our demise.
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