Nutrition and Your Health During the Teen Years

Nutrition  The process by which the body takes in & uses food.  Not all foods offer the same benefits

Importance of Good Nutrition  Enhances quality of life  Helps prevent diseases (IE- Phytochemicals such as lycopene)  Provides you w/ the calories & nutrients for max energy (IE.- Carb loading)

Calorie (kilocalorie) Units of heat that measure the energy used by the body & the energy that foods supply the body

Nutrients  Substances in food that your body needs to grow, repair itself, & supplies you with energy

What Influences Your Food Choices  Physical need & psychological desire between hunger & appetite  Taste plays an important part…if you don’t like the taste your probably not going to eat it no matter how healthy it is (IE-Rocky and raw eggs)

Hunger & Appetite  Hunger-natural physical drive that protects you from starvation  Appetite-is a desire, rather than a need, to eat

Foods & Emotions  Food is sometimes used to meet emotional needs (stress/depressed)

Food & Your Environment  A number of environmental factors influence food choices…  Family, friends, & peers-many habits were shaped as you were growing up (eat everything on your plate!)

Other Influences  Cultural & Ethnic Background  Convenience & Cost  Advertising (Coke vs Pepsi, subliminal messaging?)

Group Work Exploring Issues p.112  In your groups:  Read “Should Soft Drinks and Snacks Be Taxed to Fund Health Education Programs”, then discuss/debate and answer the two questions at the bottom.  Share your stance