How to Get Your Teen Off Junk Food

Junk food is a main staple of many teenagers' diets. Chips, colas, candy, ice cream, processed foods--all of these items are readily available to teens at school and at home. While occasionally indulging in a favorite candy bar isn't a sin, treating chocolate as a major food group is. Here are a few tips for helping your teen ditch the junk food and make healthier choices.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• healthy foods and snacks

1. Tell your teen why eating too much junk food is unhealthy. It can make him gain weight, affect his energy and mood levels and can negatively impact his academic performance.

2. Discuss reasons why choosing healthy food over junk food makes sense. Eating healthy snacks counteracts the negative effects of eating junk. Explain that healthy doesn't have to equal bland or bad-tasting. There are plenty of nutritious and delicious alternatives.

3. Shop with your teen. Encourage her to read labels and discuss the nutritional content of her favorite foods. Explore healthy alternatives that she enjoys or is at least willing to try.

4. Make healthy snacks, such as fruit, yogurt, granola bars and raw veggies readily available at home. Package baby carrots and celery sticks in snack bags so they are easy to eat on the go.

5. Model healthy snack habits by limiting your own intake of junk food. If your teen sees you eating healthy snacks, he will be more apt to follow your lead.

6. Provide encouragement to your teen as she tries to break the junk food habit. It will be difficult at times, but with your support she will succeed.