Put Some Spring in your Step

Healthy encouragement

A mother’s desire to see her teenagers eat properly is often countered by their growing independence, fragile self-image, sensitivity to peer pressure and vulnerability to food myths. Yet a teenager’s body is rapidly evolving, undergoing major changes caused by growth and hormonal fluctuations. It’s a time when encouragement to eat fruit, veggies and milk products is very important, because teens often don’t enjoy enough of these essential foods.

Eye-opening data

The most recent Canadian Community Health Survey shows that between the ages of 10 and 16, 61% of boys and a shocking 83% of girls don’t even meet the recommended minimum of three daily servings of milk products.

Bones first!

Because massive bone growth occurs during the teen years, the recommended intake of milk products for teenagers is three to four servings a day—more than at any other point in our life. And since there are so many easy, practical and tasty ways to enjoy milk products, why not encourage your teens to consume them by setting the example yourself!

Snack & run

Eaten one to two hours before a workout, a good snack should deliver a carb punch and some protein. Here are some great food ideas to toss into anyone’s sports bag (along with a cooler pack if needed). And don’t forget to hydrate!

• Small homemade muffin and milk
• Half a turkey sandwich
• Fresh fruit & yogurt or Cottage Cheese
• Drinkable fruit yogurt
• A few nuts & dried apricots
• Cereal bars or dry cereal
• Trail mix
• Milk pudding cups
• Fresh or dried fruit, fruit cups
• Graham crackers
• Cheese & cracker packets