Eat/Sleep Cluster
Eating behaviour in teenagers
Caregivers supporting teenagers
Teenagers may not need visual meal plans, timers or reward charts to establish healthy eating behaviours, but may still benefit from age-appropriate rewards for trying new foods or verbal praise for making healthy food choices.
Be mindful that strategies and techniques that worked during the school-age years may be too controlling or demanding in adolescence. During puberty, teenagers go through growth spurts up until the age of 18, and need more energy and nutrients as a result. Teenagers feel hungry more often and will eat more in general. Teenagers will need a greater calorie intake than they did as children.
Sugary drinks and snack consumption increases in the teenage years – food preferences change drastically at this age. Friendships, relationships and societal pressures will also dictate their food choices and habits. Teenagers may become fixated on diet culture from social media or skip meals rather than eating regular meals and snacks. Caregivers should consult a healthcare professional if you are concerned by drastic changes in eating behaviour.
Other themes under 'What to seek' for eating behaviour
