The teen growth spurt is one of the most dramatic, rapid changes that the human body experiences; it’s second only to the amazing growth that takes place during the first year of life. To support this major transition, the body requires increased calories and nutrients. During the year of the greatest growth in height (about age 12 in most girls and age 14 in most boys) the average female requires 2,400 calories per day and the average male needs between 2,800 and 3,000 calories per day.
“Oh, great,” I can hear you saying. “My teen probably eats that many calories in bagels, burgers, cheese, pizza, and soda.”
Not to worry (too much). If your child isn’t obsessed with food (eating too much or not eating enough) and is getting good reports at regularly scheduled medical check-ups, then in all likelihood there’s no cause for alarm.
The Good Eats Department
Hopefully, by the time your child is a teenager, you’ve laid the groundwork for good eating. (Food consumption during the teen years probably won’t reflect the values you’ve taught; don’t worry, she’ll come back to them later on.) Ideally—unless your idea of a balanced meal is nachos and beer—your child has internalized some basic ideas about healthy eating:
-
Meal time is a pleasant time when the family enjoys being together, and no one gets nagged about what they eat.
-
Family members are encouraged to stop eating when they’re full. No one is forced to “eat just a little more” or to clean their plate.
-
Food is not a reward: A good grade on an English test doesn’t warrant extra helpings of ice cream.
-
Food isn’t used as a substitute for comfort: If your teen didn’t make the hockey team, going out for pizza is not the solution.
-
Adult family members model good eating habits, and if they diet, they do it safely.
-
The fridge is stocked with healthy foods and most meals are nutritionally balanced.
