It is tempting to share the wisdom of your age and life experience with your kids, but they won’t believe that it is wise and applicable to their lives unless they believe you understand them and their daily activities and interests. Before you say anything, make sure you are listening to and asking about their daily lives and the people with whom they surround themselves. Let them teach you a thing or two and they may be more open to what you want to teach them.

Keep the message positive. Teens who want to assert their independence, be respected, and believe they are nearly adults will reject negative messages even more than the average citizen. Telling them to “not” do something, only makes them want to do it more (and doesn’t it work the same way for you too?). Positive reinforcement is always a good way to encourage more of a behavior that you appreciate. The other danger of negativity is that teens and tweens are very self-conscious. Encourage self-esteem in your child by empowering him or her, providing information and support, and always using positive language.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Talking to Your Teen about Health

Today I stumbled on this article in my Google Reader which reports that recent research shows a great suicide risk for teens that are overweight or believe that they are, regardless of gender. This doesn’t come as a major surprise to me, and I think it is important to note that self-perception is an important factor. I wonder if the correlation is truly with those who believe themselves to be overweight, regardless of actual BMI. There could be teens who are overweight but do not view themselves that way. With the growing obesity rate in children and adolescents and higher risk of suicide for those that view themselves as overweight, it’s more important than ever that we reach the teens.

It’s developmentally appropriate (normal, expected, and even healthy) for teens to look to their peer group more than adults and even family members for approval and guidance. Adults that tell teens what to do will not reach them.  However, the same developmental stage that causes teens to ignore us, helps them reach each other. As adolescents establish their own identity, they first create groups (cliques) which allows identity to be a multiple-choice rather than essay question. It is developmentally appropriate for teens to look, sound, and act like their peers. Teens can have a lot of influence over each other. If you’re trying to reach teens, you have to have teens on board. How do you get teens to join your team?

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Suicide Risk Increases for Overweight Teens

1 – Canned Beans. HUGE amounts of flavor, fiber and protein, and low in both fat and calories.

2- Whole Grain Pasta. Quick cooking and high in protein, you can make virtually anything – pasta salad, serve it with sauce, mix it with beans.

3- Frozen Vegetables and Fruits. Flash frozen straight from the field, they have a surprisingly high vitamin content and you can add them to tomato sauce to help fill little tummies.  Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies, perfect for a fast breakfast.

4 – Canned Tomatoes. Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant linked to reduced rates of cancer.  They come in all forms – pureed, sauce, diced, whole and seasoned – which cut prep times for meals to almost nothing.

5 – Nuts and Seeds. Although they tend to be high in fats (but the good kind of fat), nuts and seeds add tremendous flavor to meals and are also a great snack item.  Buy in bulk and store in the freezer to keep fresh longer.

6 – Dried Fruits. They add a sweet touch and are amazing in salads.

7 -  Cheese. Especially shredded low-fat cheddar and mozzarella, but don’t forget Parmesan.  Lower in fat than many cheeses and full of flavor, you can create pizza, add depth to a salad, or even serve it in large chunks atop pasta.

8- Bag Salad. This kitchen staple can be used for the obvious, but you can use it to fill in a sandwich or mix it with garbanzo beans and chopped tomatoes for a twist on the original. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to five days.

9 – Canned Tuna and Salmon. You can create quick and simple fish patties, add tuna to spaghetti sauce for depth of flavor, or eat it right out of the can. Slip it into a whole wheat pita and add some bagged salad.

10 – Oatmeal. Long forgotten as a poor man’s breakfast, this whole grain cooks quickly and easily, especially in the microwave, and the great fiber content fills you for hours.  Stir in some dried fruit and nuts and you’ve got a breakfast that will rival anything you could buy at Starbucks.

What are your favorite pantry staples?

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Top 10 Must-Have Pantry Basics

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Me & Goji Delivers Custom Healthy Cereal to Your Door