Tips to Helping Your Teen Maintain a Healthy Weight

Society Junk Food Platter

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You’ve no doubt been concerned about the trend of childhood obesity which has been sweeping the country the last twenty years. Parents see evidence in their neighborhoods and even in their own homes

The best advice to help reduce your teen’s weight is to set the right example. Keep in mind that when your teen changes his/her diet it is important for them to continue to receive adequate nutrition.

The ultimate approach is to rid your house of rich, calorie-laden foods that don’t provide serious nutrition; in other words, purge your house of junk food. Fill your fridge and cupboards with healthy alternatives such as fruits, vegetables and wholegrain products. Get used to low-fat dairy products. Focus on lean meats, (fish, chicken, and turkey), and incorporate beans and lentils. Reduce sweetened drinks, and consider sugar-substitutes that don’t add calories. If you want to accelerate your teen’s weight loss, you might also consider having them take a fat-blocker like Xenical (buy xenical here).

In addition to serving nutritious foods and cutting back on sugar and fat intake, consider how much food you consume at each meal. We have become accustomed to larger portions than were considered normal amounts in the past. As a general rule, meat should be no more than the size of your palm, carbohydrates should be no more than fist size, and salad and vegetables can be double that. You can find xenical information for additional means of cutting back on fat intake.

If your teenager needs a snack, try low calorie, low sugar alternatives like apples, bananas, a cup of grapes, berries, broccoli or carrots.

Plan a Mother Daughter Shopping Day

Frozen yogurt

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When it comes to raising teens, it’s easy to get bogged down by everything that your teen is doing wrong or that bugs you. It might be drinking alcohol, being rebellious or maybe just being stressed over your teen driving. (Will he or she be responsible behind the wheel?)

Instead of focusing on the negative, the best thing you can do is find ways to strengthen your relationship with your teen. Doing fun things, such as a mother daughter shopping day, may be just the thing to help you become closer to your daughter.

Plan the Day Right

The first thing you’ll want to do to be sure that the day is a success is to plan it in advance and confirm with your daughter that she’s free. Be excited about the day and tell her that you’re so appreciative of having such a responsible daughter and want to show that with a day of shopping using your Tom Joyner Reach Card.

Be sensitive to her needs as well. She may not want to go to a local mall where her friends hang out if she’s embarrassed easily. If that’s the case, consider heading to a mall that’s a little further away. By not having to worry about running into friends, she’ll be more relaxed, which will make it easier for her to have fun and converse freely.

Be sure to include a treat sometime during the day, whether that’s an iced coffee, frozen yogurt or a smoothie.

Having fun activities together, such as a shopping day, on a regular basis will allow you to become closer to your teen.