As you get older, you can start to make your own decisions about many of the things that are most important to you. You can choose your own clothes, music and friends. You may also be preparing to make decisions about your body and health.
Making healthy decisions about what you eat, how much exercise you do, and when you sleep is a great place to start. here you will learn
- how your body works— how your body uses the food and drink you consume, and how exercise helps your body "burn" calories
- How to choose healthy food and drink;
- how to moveand stay active
- howenough sleepstaying healthy is important
- How to Create Healthy Habitsand continue them
- howplan healthy meals and physical activityfit your lifestyle
Don't forget to check out Did You Know? Box for more helpful tips and ideas.
How does the body use energy?
Your body needs energy to function and grow. Calories from food and drink provide you with this energy. Think of food as energy to recharge your batteries for the day. During the day, you use battery power to think and move, so you need to eat and drink to stay energized. Balancing energy intake through food and drink with energy used for growth, activity, and daily life is called "energy balance." Energy balance can help you maintain a healthy weight.

How many calories does your body need?
Different people need different amounts of calories to stay active or maintain a healthy weight. The number of calories you need depends on whether you are male or female, your genetics, your age, your height and weight, whether you are still growing, and how active you are, which can vary from day to day.
How should you manage or control your weight?
Some teens try to lose weight by eating very little. cutting out entire food groups, such as foodscarbohydrate, or "Carbohydrates"do not eat; or fasting. These weight loss methods can be unhealthy because they leave out important nutrients your body needs. In fact, an unhealthy diet can hinder your weight management efforts by creating a vicious cycle of eating too little and then overeating because you're so hungry. An unhealthy diet can also affect your mood and the way you grow.
smoking, vomiting, or taking diet pills, orlaxativeWeight loss can also lead to health problems. If you make yourself throw up or use diet pills or laxatives to control your weight, you may have signs of a serious eating disorder and should talk to your healthcare professional or another trusted adult right away. If you smoke, this increases your risk of heart disease, cancer and other health problems,stop smokingas soon as possible.
if you thinkyou need to lose weight, consult a healthcare professional first. doctor ornutritionistMay be able to tell you if you need to lose weight and how to do so in a healthy way.
choose healthy food and drink
Healthy eating involves controlling the amount and type of food you eat and the beverages you drink. Try replacing high-sugar, high-salt, and unhealthy foodsFatServe with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat protein foods, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products.
fruits and vegetables
make half of your platefruitandvegetable.Dark green, red and orange vegetables are rich in the nutrients you need, such as vitamin C, calcium and fiber. Adding tomatoes and spinach—or any other green you like—to your sandwich is an easy way to get more veggies into your meals.
cereals
choosewhole wheatsuch as whole-grain bread, brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain cereal, instead ofRefined grainsCereal, white bread and white rice.

protein
Eat more low-fat or lean meats like turkey or chickenprotein-rich foods, such as seafood, egg whites, beans, nuts and tofu.
dairy products
Build strong bones with nonfat or low-fat dairy. If you can't digest lactose -- the sugar in milk can cause stomach pain or gas -- choose lactose-free milk or calcium-fortified soy milk. Nonfat or low-fat yogurt is also a good source of dairy.
fat
fatIt is an important part of your diet. Fat helps your body grow and develop, and even keeps your skin and hair healthy. But fat has more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates, and some are unhealthy.
Some fats, like oils from plants, are liquid at room temperature and may be better for you than others. Foods that contain healthy oils include avocados, olives, nuts, seeds and seafood such as salmon and tuna.
Solid fats, such as butter, margarine, and lard, are solid at room temperature. These fats usually containSaturatedandtrans fat, which is not healthy for you. Other foods that contain saturated fat include fatty meats and cheeses and other dairy products made from whole milk. Cut back on foods like fried chicken, cheeseburgers, and fries, which are often high in saturated and trans fats. Options to consider include mustard turkey sandwiches or lean, turkey or veggie burgers.

your body needs small amountssodium, mainly in salt. But too much sodium in food and drink can get you highblood pressure, which is generally not healthy for your heart and body. Even if you're a teenager, watch your blood pressure and heart health now to prevent health problems as you age.
Try to get less than 2,300 mg of sodium or no more than 1 teaspoon per day. This amount includes the salt in the prepared food as well as the salt you add when you cook or eat the food.
Processed foods, such as canned or packaged foods, often contain more sodium than unprocessed foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. If you can, choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over processed foods. If you cook your own food, try adding herbs and spices instead of salt to season your food. Remember to rinse canned vegetables with water to remove excess salt. If you use packaged foods, check the sodium content listed on the Nutrition Facts label. Figure 1 below shows the updated food label, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on most packaged foods as of 2018.
Figure 1. Side-by-side comparison of original and new Nutrition Facts labels

limit added sugar
Some foods, such as fruit, are naturally sweet. Other foods, such as ice cream and baked desserts, as well as some beverages, have added sugar to sweeten their taste. These sugars add calories but not vitamins or fiber. Try to get less than 10 percent of your daily calories from added sugars in food and beverages. Reach for an apple or banana instead of candy.

control your food portions
onedepartmentIt's how much food or drink you choose to consume at one time, whether it's at a restaurant, takeout, school, with friends, or at home. Many people consume more food than they need, especially when they are away from home. Meals prepared from restaurants, the grocery store, or school may give you more servings than your body needs to maintain energy. follow thesecutting edgeHelp you eat and drink the right amount of food and drink, whether you're at home or elsewhere.

don't skip meals
Skipping meals may seem like an easy way to lose weight, but it can actually lead to weight gain if you eat more later to compensate. Even if you're really busy with school and activities, it's important to try not to skip meals. Follow these tips to keep your body energized and healthy throughout the day:
- Eat breakfast every day.Breakfast helps your body function. If you don't have time in the morning, grab something to go, like an apple or banana.
- Pack lunches for the school day.Packing a lunch can help you control your food and drink portions and increase your chances of making your own meals.
- Had dinner with the family.When you eat home-cooked meals with your family, you're more likely to eat healthy food. Eating together also gives you a chance to reconnect with each other and share news of your day.
- Participate in grocery shopping and meal planning at home.Going shopping and planning and preparing meals can be fun with family or friends. Not only do you get to choose your favorite grocery and healthy foods and recipes, but you also have the opportunity to help your family eat healthy.
do you know?

move up
Physical activity should be part of your daily routine, whether you play sports, have gym class at school, run errands, or cycle or walk. Regular physical activity can help you control your weight, have stronger muscles and bones, and be more flexible.
Cardio & Lifestyle Activities
You should at least be physically active60 minutes a day (PDF,14.2MB) .60 minutes or more of daily activity, most of which should be moderate-intensity or vigorous-intensityAerobic exercise, and you should do vigorous exercise at least 3 days a week. Aerobic exercise, or exercise that makes you breathe hard and raises your heart rate, includes jogging, biking, and dancing.

For a more moderate workout, try brisk walking, jogging, or biking on a flat road or trail. To increase the intensity, change your walk to a jog or jog to a run—or add an incline to your walk, run, or bike ride. You don't have to do your 60 minutes a day in one sitting to get the most out of your activity.
As part of your daily 60 minutes or more of physical activity, you should include muscle-strengthening physical activity, such as lifting weights, at least 3 days a week.
Ordinary activities like cleaning the house or taking out the trash may not raise your heart rate as much as biking or jogging. But they're also a great way to stay active on a regular basis.
Fitness apps that you can download to your computer, smartphone, or other mobile device can help you track how active you are each day.
do you know?
Activities add up!

Here's an example of how to incorporate 60 minutes of physical activity into your day:
10 minutes - walk or bike to a friend's house
+
30 minutes - play basketball
+
10 Minutes - Hunting Dogs in the Yard
+
10 minutes - walk home
= 60 minutes of activity!
have fun with your friends
Activities are more fun with other people such as friends or family. You may also find yourself making friends when you join a sports team or dance club to get active. Mix things up by choosing a different activity each day. Try kicking a soccer ball, flashlight tag, or other activities that get you moving, like walking around the mall. Get your friends involved and challenge them to stay fit with you. Sign up together for active events like charity walks, fun runs or scavenger hunts.
take it out
Maybe you or some of your friends spend a lot of time indoors watching TV, surfing the web, using social media, or playing video games. Try doing some outdoor activity to burn calories. Here are other activities you can try:
- Compete in a jump rope or hula hoop competition.
- Play Frisbee.
- Do an obstacle course or go on a scavenger hunt.
- Play volleyball or flag football.
If you're stuck indoors or running out of time, try going up and down stairs in your apartment or house. You can also find dance and other fitness and fitness videos online or on some TV channels. Some routines only last 15 or 20 minutes, so you can squeeze in time between work, going out, or other activities. If you have a gaming system, you can also opt for active sports gaming.
enough sleep
It can be hard to get enough sleep at times, especially if you have a job, help care for younger siblings, or are busy with other extracurricular activities. Just like eating a healthy diet and getting enough physical activity, getting enough sleep is important to staying healthy.
You need enough sleep to do well in school, to work and drive safely, and to fight off infections. Lack of sleep can make you moody and irritable. While more research is needed, some studies suggest that sleep deprivation can also lead to weight gain.
If you're between the ages of 13 and 18, you should be getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Look forwhat you can do to make sure you're getting enough sleep.
Take it easy
Changing your habits can be difficult. Forming new habits takes time. Use the tips below andChecklistStay motivated and achieve your goals in the Become a Health Champion section. You can do it!
- Make changes little by little.Don't expect to change your eating or activity habits overnight. Changing too quickly can hurt your chances of success.
- Find out what's holding you back.Are there any unhealthy snacks at home that are too tempting? Are your school cafeteria food and drink choices high in fat and sugar? How can you change these habits?
- Set some realistic goals.If you drink soda, try replacing some soda with water. Once you've been cutting out soda for a while, try cutting out all soda. Then set another goal, such as getting more physical activity every day. Once you hit one goal, add another.
- Find a friend at school or at home to support your new habit.Ask a friend, sibling, parent or guardian to help you make changes and stick to your new habits.
Healthy meals and physical activity planned just for you
Staying healthy might sound like a lot of work, right? Well, it doesn't have to be. A free online tool calledMyPlate planCan help you create a daily meal plan. All you have to do is enter whether you are male or female, your weight, height and how much physical activity you do each day. The list will tell you how many calories you should be eating each day and how much fruit, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy you should be eating to stay within your calorie goal.
Another tool, calledNIH Weight ProgramAllows you to adjust your calorie and physical activity plan to achieve your personal goals within a specific time period.
For recipes to help you plan simple, healthy meals like these, visitboom! body and mind.
breakfast:1 banana, 1 slice of whole-grain bread, avocado or tomato, and skim or low-fat milk
Lunch:Turkey Sandwich with Black Leaf Lettuce, Tomatoes and Red Peppers on Whole Wheat Bread
dinner:Two Whole Grain Taco Shells with Chicken or Black Beans, Skim or Low Fat Cheese, and Lettuce
junk food:apples, bananas or popcorn
become a health champion
Being away from home for most of the day can sometimes make it difficult to eat healthy food and drinks. By becoming a "Health Champion," you can help yourself and your family and friends get healthier by eating healthier foods and drinks and becoming more active. Whether you're at home or on the go, use this checklist to build healthy habits into your day:
Clinical Trials
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.
What are clinical trials and are they right for you?
Clinical trials are part of clinical research and are at the heart of all medical progress. Clinical trials investigate new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to examine other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic conditions.Find out if clinical trials are right for you.
Which clinical trials are open?
You can view currently open and ongoing clinical trialswww.ClinicalTrials.gov.
FAQs
Taking Charge of Your Health: A Teen's Guide - NIDDK? ›
Teenagers aged 14-18 years should aim for 2 serves of fruit; 5-5½ serves of vegies; 3½ serves of dairy; 7 serves of grains; and 2½ serves of lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds or legumes. Teens need plenty of water – the cheapest, healthiest and most thirst-quenching drink.
What are the things an adolescent should do to maintain good health? ›- Eat 3 meals a day, with healthy snacks.
- Increase fiber in the diet and decrease the use of salt.
- Drink water. ...
- Eat balanced meals.
- When cooking for your adolescent, try to bake or broil instead of fry.
- Make sure your adolescent watches (and decreases, if necessary) his or her sugar intake.
Teenagers aged 14-18 years should aim for 2 serves of fruit; 5-5½ serves of vegies; 3½ serves of dairy; 7 serves of grains; and 2½ serves of lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds or legumes. Teens need plenty of water – the cheapest, healthiest and most thirst-quenching drink.
Why is it important for a teenager to have a balanced diet? ›The teenage years are a time of rapid growth and development, so a healthy balanced diet is particularly important. Healthy, active young people can have large appetites. If you're a teenager, it's important to eat well-balanced meals, rather than too many snacks that are high in fat, sugar or salt.
How long does it take to recover from a bad diet? ›Adjusting to healthy eating.
The key thing to remember when embarking on a health journey is to be patient with yourself as your body needs time to physically adjust to the changes in your diet as well as maintain this new healthy habit. Research shows that it can take up to 21 days to form a new habit!
- Allergies.
- Eating disorders.
- Obesity.
- Asthma.
- Eczema.
So, one to two eggs daily will meet the requirement for younger children. Tweens and teens will need to get the rest of their allotment either from more eggs or other choline sources, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, seeds, nuts, and whole grains.
What are the nutritional requirements for adolescent females? ›Energy (calories) and protein are essential in pubertal development. Adolescent females require approximately 2200 calories/day, whereas male adolescents require 2500-3000 calories/day. Additional intake requirements include fat, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins, and fiber.
How much sugar should a 16 year old have a day? ›The American Heart Association recommends children and teens consume less than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar per day.
What should a teenager do everyday? ›- Earn and manage money. Getty Images. ...
- Prepare meals. Getty Images. ...
- Manage and complete their school work. ...
- Politely and respectfully talk to adults. ...
- How to deal with an emergency. ...
- Navigate nearby areas. ...
- Tip when appropriate. ...
- Wake themselves up in the morning.
What are the 7 steps of nutrition? ›
- Start with the serving size. ...
- Look at the calorie count. ...
- Limit certain nutrients. ...
- Increase certain nutrients. ...
- Know your daily values (DV). ...
- Understand how to use your daily values. ...
- Read the ingredients.
Tips to Manage Teenage Health Issues:
The life building skills, programs to strengthen the bond with parents, can help the adolescents to deal with these issues. Ensuring nutritional diet and daily exercise can help the adolescents to deal with malnutrition and obesity.
The good news we can take from this knowledge it is that some of the causes are reversible. For the most part, many complications and health risk experienced from poor food choices, physical inactivity and too much stress can be quickly and effectively improved by changes in lifestyle habits.
What happens if you eat unhealthy for years? ›Consuming unhealthy food and beverages, such as sugar-sweetened beverages and highly processed food, can lead to weight gain, obesity and other chronic conditions that put people at higher risk of at least 13 types of cancer, including endometrial (uterine) cancer, breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and colorectal ...
What are some ways that people can take charge of their health? ›- Keep track of important health information.
- Know your family's health history.
- See a doctor regularly for checkups.
- Be prepared for medical appointments.
- Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist questions.
- Follow up after your appointment.
- Save Money on Medicines. ...
- Use Your Benefits. ...
- Plan Ahead for Urgent and Emergency Care. ...
- Ask About Outpatient Facilities. ...
- Choose In-Network Health Care Providers. ...
- Take Care of Your Health. ...
- Choose a Health Plan That is Right for You.
Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.
What is the #1 cause of teenage deaths? ›What Is The Primary Cause Of Teenage Deaths? According to the CDC, the primary cause of teenage deaths is injuries sustained from accidents. Accidents are responsible for almost one-half of all adolescent deaths.
What are the 3 main struggles of adolescence? ›Adolescents' most prevalent issues are growth and development, school, childhood illnesses that persist into adolescence, and mental health concerns.
What are the six problems of adolescence age? ›Growth and development, education, childhood illnesses that persist into adolescence, mental health issues, and the effects of risky or illegal conduct, including injury, legal consequences, pregnancy, infectious diseases, and drug use issues, are the most common problems among teenagers.
How much protein should a 14 year old eat a day? ›
As a rule, boys and girls between ages 11 and 14 need half a gram per pound of body weight daily. Thus, a young teenager weighing 110 pounds needs about 50 g of protein a day. Between ages 15 and 18, the RDA drops slightly.
Do eggs help in height growth? ›What's more, one study in 874 children observed that regularly eating eggs was associated with increased monthly height gains ( 34 ). Eggs are rich in protein and vitamin D, along with several other important micronutrients. Studies show that regular egg intake could be associated with increases in height.
What are the two nutritional problems of adolescent girl? ›- Anaemia. There is an increasing trend towards a decrease in age of menarche both in upper affluent class and rural communities making adolescent girls susceptible to anaemia. ...
- Obesity. ...
- Acne Vulgaris. ...
- Malnutrition due to teenage pregnancy.
The need for several nutrients — including zinc, chromium, riboflavin, niacin, choline, thiamin and vitamins A, C and K — are slightly higher for men than women. Men's supplements generally have little or no iron, as it can build up over time and lead to organ damage, a consequence more common in men.
Why is too much salt unhealthy? ›But too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone. Most Americans consume at least 1.5 teaspoons of salt per day, or about 3400 mg of sodium, which contains far more than our bodies need.
Which fruit has the most sugar? ›The fruits with the highest sugar content include mangoes, pomegranates, oranges, and pears.
How much protein should a teenager have a day? ›5 to . 8 grams of protein for every pound of body weight. In general, this breaks down to most teenage boys needing about 52 grams of protein per day, while teenage girls need about 46 grams per day.
Does fruit have too much sugar? ›Bottom Line. For the general public, sugar in fruit is not bad as long as you consume the whole fruit and not just fruit juice or products that contain sweetened fruit pieces. When we are seeking to limit sugars, added sugars are more of a concern.
What time should a 13 year old go to bed? ›6-12 years old: should go to sleep between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. 13-18 years old: should go to sleep around 10:00 pm. Bare in mind that once puberty hits, it will be difficult for teenagers to fall asleep until around 11 pm.
What is normal 14 year old behavior? ›Children in this age group might: Show more concern about body image, looks, and clothes. Focus on themselves; going back and forth between high expectations and lack of confidence. Experience more moodiness.
What is the 5 rule for nutrition? ›
Use the 5-20 Rule
If the % DV is 5 or less then it is low in that nutrient, If the% DV is 20% or more then it is high in that nutrient. The %DV is based on a 2,000- calorie diet – your needs might be more or less than this.
The Rules of Good Nutrition
They are: Eat breakfast – You should endeavor to eat breakfast within 30 minutes of getting out of bed. Pack in protein – You need to eat protein at least three times per day. Eat frequently – It's a good idea to eat every two to three hours, including healthy snack choices.
Around 2010, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) translated these and other findings into six interconnected pillars that support a healthy body and mind: nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection.
What are the most common health problem of adolescent? ›Teenagers and body image
The related health problems for young people can include: crash dieting and malnourishment. eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia nervosa. obesity.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in adolescents.
What are the most common safety concerns in adolescent? ›- Automobile Accidents.
- Suicide.
- Gun Violence.
- Bullying.
- Sexual Risks.
- Tobacco Use.
- Alcohol.
- Recreational Drugs.
- learn more about healthy eating and food portions.
- learn more about being physically active.
- make lists of. healthy foods that you like or may need to eat more of—or more often. foods you love that you may need to eat less often. things you could do to be more physically active.
- Eat plenty of fruits and veggies.
- Eat fish twice a week.
- Eat whole-grain, high-fiber foods.
- Decrease saturated fat intake to less than 7% of calorie intake.
- Decrease trans fat to less than 1% of calorie intake.
- Decrease cholesterol to less than 300 mg/d per day.
- Balance calorie intake with exercise.
Eating regular meals helps to regulate blood sugar. This may influence some of the hormones that control our mood and ability to concentrate. For this reason, poor mood and behaviour are often observed in children who have been without food for too long (for example, children who haven't eaten breakfast).
How long is too long to be on a diet? ›This is why the research suggests that there's a limit on how long you should ever be dieting, or restricting calories for the purpose of weight loss. That time limit is between 8-12 weeks. Anything shorter than that suggests that there will be little to no results in length for losing fat mass.
Why is dieting so hard mentally? ›
One major mental block to weight loss is wanting too much, too fast. Blame it on our instant-gratification society, with its instant messaging, PDAs, and digital cameras: Weight loss is too slow to satisfy most dieters. "Losers want immediate results. …
How long is too long to be in a deficit? ›We do not suggest eating in a fat loss deficit for more than 12 weeks or extreme fat loss deficit for more than 4-6 weeks. If you're struggling to eat all of your calories or macros, start by increasing your intake 100 calories each week until you work your way up to maintenance.
Why is American diet so unhealthy? ›Part of the problem, according to the CDC, is access to healthy food. Food is all around people, but much of it isn't healthy. Grocery stores have aisles and aisles of foods packed with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. Only a fraction of store space is devoted to healthy vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
How long does it take to detox from unhealthy food? ›The detoxification process may vary from one day to weeks depending on the type of detox you choose. Good and adequate sleep allows eliminating toxins that accumulate throughout the day. Eating a diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics keeps your digestive system healthy, and thus helps in proper detoxification.
What are three conditions that are often linked to a poor diet? ›A healthy diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesityAn unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity.
What are the health and good habits to develop the age of adolescence? ›Healthy and good habits that we should develop during adolescence are: Eat a balanced diet and avoid junk food to prevent obesity. Regular physical exercise helps to build our body. Keep ourselves clean by bathing twice a day, cutting hair, trimming nails, wearing clean clothes.
What are the most important aspects of adolescent health? ›Adolescent health encompasses changing transitions within multiple domains, including the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and intellectual. The fast-paced development of these different domains can lead to phenomenal growth during this period.
What are 3 habits that promote healthful aging? ›- Get moving: Exercise and physical activity.
- Healthy eating: Make smart food choices.
- Getting a good night's sleep.
- Quit smoking.
- Alcohol and other substances.
- Go to the doctor regularly.
- Social isolation and loneliness.
- Stress.