Feeding The Teen Eating Machine

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday January 14, 2009

ANNETTE SYM

IF you have ever fed a teenage boy you will know that you basically lead them to the trough and let them eat until the food is no more.

They seem to have hollow legs and can never be filled up. Ask a teenage boy what are his four main food groups and I bet he will say burgers, fries, soft drinks and chocolate bars.

The influence of the media doesn't help, with advertisers tempting teenagers with a huge array of unhealthy, high-fat foods.

Don't think that they won't take these unhealthy habits with them into their adulthood, because more than likely they will.

It is hard to break the habit when you develop a taste for salty, fatty or sugary foods. This type of food can also affect their skin which in puberty can be a real concern.

I am confident that if you cut out greasy food and the sugar drinks (such as colas) that teens seem to guzzle, their skin would show an improvement quickly.

We are even now seeing teenagers developing Type 2 diabetes, which was almost unheard of until recently.

This is caused by an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. Providing them with healthy options may not be the cheapest way to go, but if we don't what will be the cost to their long-term health?

If, like many of us, you need to keep to a food budget and provide for these hungry little darlings, these tips may help:

Buy food in bulk.

Look for specials and stock up when they are cheap.

Stretch out mince dishes by adding grated carrots, zucchini and slices of bread.

Use recipes and foods that are high in fibre. Include as many vegetables or salads as you can in their meals, as this will help fill them up.

Buy high-fibre cereals, so that once again you are filling them up. Sugary cereals won't last very long and they will be searching for food by mid-morning.

Buy fruits that are in season, as they are normally cheaper to buy.

Home cooking is a great way to save money. Make the time to do a cooking day where you can prepare ahead and have frozen meals at your fingertips for when they come home starving.

Keeping children hydrated is a good way to stop the hunger pangs. Have filtered water available. A much better choice as opposed to high sugar (and costly) drinks.

Annette Sym's Symply Too Good To Be True cookbooks and CD-ROM menu planner are sold in newsagencies or visit symplytoogood.com.au.

RECIPE

PIZZA SUPREME

Serves: 2

* 1 tablespoon no added

salt tomato paste

* 1 kebab bread

* ? cup lean ham diced

* ?/? cup onion thinly

sliced

* ?/? cup capsicum diced

* ?/? cup celery diced

* ?/? cup pineapple sliced

(optional)

* ? cup mushrooms

sliced

* ? cup reduced-fat

grated tasty cheese

Easy to make at home, this Pizza

Supreme recipe is very tasty and

much healthier than a fast-food

version.

Preheat oven 200UC fan-forced.

Spread tomato paste evenly

over kebab bread. Arrange all the

toppings (except cheese) evenly

over base. Sprinkle cheese over

pizza. Bake for 10-15 minutes until

cheese has melted and is golden

brown. Cut into six pieces and serve

with salad.

VARIATION: Omit ham, replace with

cup (60g) cooked skinless chicken

diced.

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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