Question:
My daughter eats a ton of food. She is very slender, but my husband is worried that her habits will catch up with her. She eats a mix of healthy and junk. She is very active in sports, running track daily and physical play at home. She is 13 years old. How concerned should he be?Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert Kendrin Sonneville, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. is a clinical dietitian specialist at Childrens' Hospital Boston. She answers:
Your daughter is probably eating a ton of food because she needs it! Teens tend to have energy (calorie) needs that are substantially higher than adults because they are growing and are usually burning lots of energy through activity. As long as your daughter is growing normally and gaining weight proportionally, it means that the amount of food she is eating is appropriate for her at this point in time. As your daughters energy needs decrease with age (or if she reduces her activity), her appetite and intake should decrease accordingly.
In your daughters case, I would concentrate on quality, not quantity. There is certainly some room for some junk food, but these foods shouldn't be the foundation of her diet. Essential nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water) come first! Eating a diet that includes plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is beneficial for all teens, no matter what they weigh. A healthy diet can maximize academic and athletic performance and help prevent chronic disease.