NFL PLAY 60—Happy 2010!
Sue A. James, MS, RD, LDN
Is Dieting Okay?
The New Year is a time when many of you or your parents may be thinking about a diet. Is dieting okay for kids? Everyone is different and their bodies grow at their own pace. No two kids are the same. Our height, weight, and body frames (the size of your bones) are different. Our parents and grandparents usually decide how tall we will grow. If your parents are tall, you may be tall. If your parents are shorter than some of your friend's parents, you may be shorter. It has already been decided how tall or short you are going to be.
Do kids need to go on diets? Since everyone grows at a different rate, it is important to eat healthy and take advantage of our potential to get taller. When adults or kids go on diets they often do not eat enough good quality nutrients to keep their bodies healthy. Some diets tell you to stop eating carbohydrates or to stop drinking milk. They may also ask you to eat only one food like a grapefruit or a piece of celery at your meal. This will not keep you healthy or help you grow normally.
When someone is trying to lose weight, it is NOT good to avoid any of the five food groups:
*milk & dairy
*grains
*meat & beans
*fruit
*vegetables
- Stay active and play every day to prevent gaining extra weight.
Speak with your doctor before starting a diet. Your doctor may be able to give you tips to gain weight slowly or ways to maintain your current weight. Extreme diets or skipping meals can be dangerous and unhealthy. Check with a doctor before making any diet plans for the New Year.
Make 2010 a healthy year!
