Diets are never the way to go when losing weight, they create a temporary eating pattern and therefore have temporary results.
So what is the best way to encourage your teen to maintain a healthy weight?
Here are five ways to make that happen:
Exercise: Regular physical activity burns calories and helps build muscle. If possible, encourage your child to cycle to school and get active as a family. Go hill walking at the weekends, take walks in the evening after dinner or just have a kick-about with a football together.
Reduce screen time: Children and teens are getting less exercise these days and spending more time in front of a screen- watching TV, looking at the computer, or playing video games. Limit screen time to less than two hours per day.
Watch out for portion sizes: Portion sizes are getting bigger and these extra calories contribute to obesity. Give your teen smaller portions and offer water instead of sugary drinks.
Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Fruits and vegetables don’t just contain vitamins and minerals, they are also packed with fibre. Teens are less likely to over eat when they consume fibre as it results in a fuller for longer feeling.
Don't skip breakfast. Breakfast kicks starts your teen’s metabolism, giving them more energy during the day. People who skip breakfast often feel so hungry that they eat more later on resulting in a greater calorie intake than if they had eaten breakfast. In fact, people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight or obese than those who do not. Having a bowl of fortified cereal with skimmed milk and a portion of fruit is a great way for your teen to kick-start their day.
