To better understand
Adolescence is a period during which children are establishing their independence, and their eating habits can be positively or negatively influenced by the people around them (their friends, for example) and by their living environments. As a parent, you can help your teen understand how making good food choices is important for their health, as well as their physical and mental well-being. You can talk about the long-term negative consequences of eating too many foods that are high in sugar, fat or salt, such as developing certain chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes).
During adolescence, teens should be encouraged to develop their food skills. These skills include being able to read and interpret information on food labels, knowing how to safely prepare and store foods, evaluating the texture or flavour of a food, making a grocery list, planning and preparing a nutritious meal, using the right equipment and substituting ingredients in a recipe.
Eating habits of teens living in the Montérégie region
- Excluding fruit juices, less than one third of teens (28%) eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day.
- More than one student in ten doesn’t eat breakfast on school days (i.e., they have nothing to eat or drink before their classes). For both boys and girls, this proportion increases for higher grades.
- Nearly half of boys eat junk food for lunch (47%). This proportion is slightly lower for girls (39 %).
Watch our video clip on this topic
Sugary drinks are particularly popular with young people. As a parent, it is normal to wonder about their effects on the health of your child. Julie Marcil, nutritionnist, answers your questions and gives you some tips to help your teen drink more water.
To better support
Tips and tricks
- Take advantage of family meals to discuss various food topics such as where the food comes from, the environmental impact of our food choices and the ethical considerations of certain cultures.
- To encourage drinking water:
- Reduce the availability of sugary drinks at home.
- Make water or sparkling water the beverage choice during meals.
- Flavour water with fruits or fresh herbs.
- Purchase a beautiful water pitcher for your family meals.
- Are you dealing with a situation that worries you? Ask for helpere are a few ideas for healthy snacks that can be prepared in advance: raw vegetables, dips (ideally made with yogurt or hummus), fruits, roasted nuts, yogurt, granola mixes, rice cakes or crackers, nut butters, cottage cheese and dried fruits. For more ideas, see this page of Radio-Canada’s website Mordu.
In short
When your child becomes a teenager, as a parent, you should focus on actions that will help them make nutritious food choices every day, develop a healthy relationship with food and learn food skills.
By introducing them to a variety of healthy foods, limiting highly processed foods and by taking the time to eat together and share some good times around the table, the whole family will benefit!
Practical resources and tools
1. To support you :
Are you dealing with a situation that worries you? Ask for help:
2. For more information:
See the page in Canada’s food guide specific to teenagers
Eating and body image:
- See the website of the organization Équilibre: https://equilibre.ca
Fruits and vegetables:
- See the website I love fruits and veggies movement for more information about portion sizes and to get recipe ideas.
Sugary drinks:
- See what Canada’s food guide recommends
Hunger and fullness cues:
- See this article written by the organization Équilibre for more advice on this topic.
Food marketing:
- See this page of Canada’s food guide.
For recipes that are easy to make with your teen, see the section Mordu of Radio Canada’s website
Teen vegetarians:
- Article published in La Presse “Vivre avec un ado Végé”
- Article from Dietitians of Canada “Planification des repas de l’adolescent végétarien”