YMCA Healthy Living Magazine winter 2021 | Page 6

AUTHOR

BRITTANY ANDREOLA Brittany Andreola is an Accredited Practising Dietitian at Discover Health Dietetics . Follow her on Instagram @ brittandreola . dietitian or LinkedIn .

TEENAGE NUTRITION

An important time to establish healthy eating habits and a good relationship with food .

As we grow and change throughout our childhood , so do our nutritional requirements . This can make it confusing for teenagers , with hormones kicking in and puberty unfolding at a rapid rate .

The teenage years are also a critical time to set up good eating habits and a positive relationship with food and body .

The best way to ensure your teen is getting the nutrition they need is to look at core food groups that contain essential macronutrients ( carbohydrates , fats , fibre and protein ) and micronutrients ( antioxidants , minerals and vitamins ).

For teenagers , here are the main food groups and average recommended serves per day :

} dairy foods or fortified alternatives ( 3½ serves per day ). } fruits ( 2 serves per day ). } grains and cereals like rice , oats , quinoa , pasta , breads

( 5-7 serves per day ). } lean meats and poultry , fish , tofu , egg , nuts

( 2½ serves per day ). } vegetables and legumes ( 5-5½ serves per day ).

6

YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE