5 Strategies To Promote Healthy Habits in Teens

The practice of healthy habits during adolescence is essential for coping with the physical and emotional changes in this phase. What should we keep in mind? We will explain below.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the stage a person lives between 10 and 19 years of age. At this stage, bodily and psychological changes occur that condition the perception of oneself. In turn, the construction of identity is at its peak, which is why it is opportune to start promoting healthy habits in adolescents. How to do this?

Adolescents often face the following dilemma: “I’m not a child, but I’m not an adult, what can I do?” Without a doubt, it is a question with many possible answers. So, as parents, it’s good to be mindful to be able to provide the necessary tools to make them feel good. Next, we’ll look at some recommendations.

General tips for parents with teenage children

Adolescence, according to age, is divided into three phases: early, intermediate and late. In each one, growth is a fundamental factor that must be taken care of. Therefore, it is necessary to create healthy routines for good development. What aspects should be taken into account?

Pay attention to the personality they are forming.

Every moment of adolescence has emotional characteristics that will be reflected in the personality. As parents, it is essential to be aware of this, as this way the children’s preferences can be channeled into activities that they like and that promote their well-being.

meal plan

A key factor for all stages of adolescence is undoubtedly diet. Good nutrition is crucial for growth and for physical and mental health. Therefore, it is necessary to plan meals in advance and, if possible, consult a nutritionist.

Promote recreational activities

Recreation and sports are, together, as important a complement to health as food. Sharing fun activities with teens will help strengthen bonding. Also, making them a habit will promote the formation of positive family memories.

Adolescence is a phase that brings many changes. Therefore, parental support is essential.

What healthy habits should we promote in adolescents?

Due to the behavior of adolescents, it seems difficult to encourage healthy habits. However, there are some strategies that help make this process easier. Be sure to put them into practice!

1. Food

The nutritional contribution of what teenagers consume is a topic of permanent review. Few people are used to consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, although they are essential for strengthening the immune system. If you have children at this stage, the following recommendations are helpful:

Once you know what your favorite fruits are, keep as many around the house as possible and try to keep them in sight. So when snack time comes, these foods will always be around. Fruits are good allies because they can quickly satisfy the need for sweets.

Make sure you never skip breakfast. This first meal of the day is essential for obtaining energy and nutrients. As long as you choose a quality food, it can be very good for your health. However, teenagers often ignore this and choose to consume unhealthy foods at this time of day.
Other good nutritional options are foods like oilseeds and seeds. As they are easy to store, they can be taken in daily activities to consume at any time.
Promote healthy drinking and water consumption. For this, it is a good idea to always have a bottle of water at hand. In turn, it is necessary to ensure that they do not consume too many sugary drinks or sodas. The latter, in particular, can cause serious health consequences.

2. Emotional stability

Changes in the body during adolescence can be the cause of insecurities that often manifest themselves through stress, anxiety or mood swings. To avoid these emotional states, the ideal is to include them in activities and conversations that allow them to develop their self-confidence. It is also convenient to let them enjoy leisure time with their friends.

3. Sport and physical activity

Currently, there are many alternatives to exercise. Finding one that suits your taste will not be difficult. This is one of the main habits that can be promoted in adolescents, as in the medium and long term, it is a determining factor in taking care of their health.

Some simple activities are as follows:

Walks r or run.
Sports (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.).
Online training and lessons at home.
Bike tours.
Academies.

Encouraging the practice of physical exercise and sports in adolescence is essential to avoid the appearance of health problems.

4. Social life

Teenagers, when living with other young people, put into practice many of the values and customs they learn at home, as they make their own decisions. Therefore, there must be the possibility of interaction with your friends and, in general, your social life. This, to a large extent, helps them learn to be independent from their parents.

5. Quality rest

Rest is another factor you cannot ignore in teenagers. Doing it properly will help your mind to be in its best state to process activities related to the development of your knowledge.

Therefore, it is good to provide a comfortable space at home where they can sleep, nap and practice activities that require concentration and silence.

Promoting healthy habits in adolescents is the parents’ responsibility

Parents have a responsibility to promote healthy habits in adolescents; for this, nothing better than the example. It is important that the entire family is physically active, eats well, and engages in activities that contribute to physical and mental well-being.

It is important to provide the spaces and conditions necessary for young people to have a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, we must not forget that support and monitoring at this stage is essential.