Glencoe Health © 2007Chapter 5:
Nutrition and Your HealthChapter 5 Parent Letter and ActivitiesDear Parent or Guardian, Proper nutrition is especially crucial during the teen years, yet studies
show that young
adults are consuming more empty calories than ever before. Teens today eat
about 150 more
calories each day in snacks than they did twenty years ago. In fact, a typical
teen consumes
about 25 percent of their daily caloric allowance between meals! With obesity
rates over two
times what they were two decades ago, it is important that teens are knowledgeable
about the
foods they eat. Nutrition and healthful eating is the current focus of your
teen’s health class. In this chapter, your teen will explore the following topics: - Nutrition During the Teen Years.
- Nutrients.
- Guidelines for Healthful Eating.
- Food and Healthy Living.
Your involvement and participation in your teen’s health education is
important. To support our classroom work, please complete one or more of the
following activities with your teen: Discuss the value of proper nutrition.
Ask your teen to examine his or her daily diet.
Help your teen chart his or her food intake over a few days and analyze the
results. Consider
alternatives and encourage your teen to implement changes, adopting choices
that create a more balanced and healthful diet. Ask your teen to explain factors
that influence food choice. Ask your teen to accompany you to the grocery store.
Have him or her recommend the types of food necessary for proper nutrition.
Ask your teen to explain his or her selections. Please
plan other activities you think will help your teen understand and practice
the concepts presented in this chapter. Thank you for supporting our classroom
work. Feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss your teen’s
health education. Sincerely, Health Teacher |