Guidelines - Healthy Diet - IB Comp Pg 297

Do you have a healthy diet? Research has shown that a great number of 15 and 16-year olds have a less than healthy diet. There are eating too much junk food and snacks and not enough fruit and vegetables, drinking too many fizzy drinks and not enough water and generally spending too much time on their computing devices and not enough time on not getting enough exercise. This unhealthy, inactive lifestyle can have some serious consequences; in the short-term, it can lead to problems concentrating on school work and, in the long-term, it can lead to obesity and problems with your heart. Therefore, it’s very important that you look after you diet when you are still young. The guidelines below will help you to do this.

1. Cut down on junk food and fizzy drinks

While they may taste better and give you a quick rush of energy, junk food and fizzy drinks don’t have much nutritional value. Instead, it is better to have a balanced diet, making sure you have enough of all the food groups: carbohydrates, protein, milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, and fats and sugars. And try to replace those fizzy drinks with fruit juice and water.

2. Eat regularly and try not to snack

Having regularly meals is also very important. It’s a good idea to start off the day with a good, healthy breakfast. Too many teenagers prefer to get a bit more sleeping time than to eat breakfast, with the result that their energy levels are very low in the morning. Have lunch and dinner at regular times as well. By doing this, you will be less inclined to snack on less healthy food such as chocolate, crisps and bottles of Coke. If you do feel like a snack, munch on something like fruit, vegetables or whole-grain biscuits, and don’t forget to drink water regularly. Finally, it’s not a good idea to have a big meal just before you go to bed. This will interrupt you sleeps patterns which will affect how you study the following day. If you must have something, try milk and a banana.

3. Get away from the computer and do more exercise

Using your computer and mobile devices too much can also lead to an unhealthy diet as you may snack more and not get enough exercise. Try to restrict the time you spend online or watching TV. Instead, get outside and do some exercise. Even if you are not a sporty type, you could still go for walks or bicycle rides.

4. Talk to people if you are feeling stressed

Finally, stress or depression can lead to negative eating patterns. If you’re feeling like this, don’t bottle up your feelings up. Try to talk to supportive people such as good friends, your parents, teachers or the school counsellor.

Having an unhealthy diet is not something that is synonymous with being a teenager. Instead, be proactive, think about the short and long-term effects of bad eating patterns and lack of exercise before it is too late. Hopefully, the guidelines above will help you to do this.