News Taffy

Last week, my blog was directed at teens and their eating habits and I am continuing with that theme today. If I help just one teen start to eat better it will be worth it. Let’s talk about that staple of the teen diet - fast food.

Unfortunately, many teens eat too much fast food because that is what they were raised on by their equally clueless parents. Now I am not automatically blaming parents because there has been little to no education on proper nutrition in this country. I can’t really blame parents for not knowing better even 10 years ago but by now I think we are all aware of the health crisis and what’s caused it. It’s time to educate ourselves on how to take care of our bodies and then DO it.

So teens, cut back on fast food. It’s that simple. You shouldn’t eat at a fast food restaurant more than once a week. That includes getting food at the neighborhood quick stop or gas station. Yes, fast food restaurants are slowly making some changes but why risk your health? In last week’s post, I listed several foods to avoid eating and a good portion of the list is fast food. You should also avoid eating those foods at your school cafeteria. I know many kids who get pizza or chicken strips EVERY day at school. It’s GROSS what you are putting into your body and to be honest, the results are GROSS too! I see too many kids with jiggly waists plodding along after school every day.

There are also gross things happening inside your body when you eat nothing but junk. You can’t see it, but it’s there alright. Your arteries that carry blood around your body are filling up with fat. You could have a heart attack by age 29; my husband’s patients get younger and younger every year. Eating too much sugar can cause changes that means your body can no longer process that sugar properly leading to diabetes. Diabetes is a terrible disease that can hit you in your teens. It can lead to blindness, heart attacks and amputation of your legs. The excess weight you gain can limit your ability to do sports and cause joint pain and shortness of breath. Still want that hamburger and fries?

Simply put, eating fast food means you are not getting enough fruits and vegetables and lean, not fatty, protein. Even the fast food salads can be loaded with fats and sugars. You are much better off eating food that is prepared at home. That way you can control exactly what goes into that food and you know it is healthier for you. There is no reason why someone can’t make their own lunch for school or even cook a meal by age 10 or so. If you can read, you can cook.

Next week, we will talk about some healthier options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know many teens are worried about their weight, and I hope this reaches some of them and helps.

Until next week,
Lisa