Category: Adolescence

According to HealthyChildren.org, a teenager's body demands more calories during early adolescence than at any other time of life, with boys needing around 2,800 and girls around 2,200 calories per day on average. Understanding how much should you eat as a teenager is crucial for supporting rapid growth, hormonal changes, and increased energy expenditure during this vital stage of life.

According to research published in 2025, health is a primary dietary motivation for many teenagers, though it's not the only factor. For parents and teens alike, understanding why a teenager would become vegetarian is the first step toward a healthy and supported dietary transition.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescents aged 12 to 18 should limit their caffeine intake to no more than 100mg per day, which is roughly equivalent to one cup of brewed coffee. This guideline suggests that while a daily cup may fall within recommended limits, habitual consumption requires careful consideration of the potential effects on a young adult’s developing brain and body.

Teens require crucial nutrients like protein, iron, and calcium to support their growth and energy levels. Learning what are healthy snacks for teens on the go is essential to keep them energized and focused throughout their busy schedules.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it is not recommended for children and teens to go on diets, including calorie counting, unless medically supervised. For a 14-year-old, the pressure to track calories can be especially harmful, disrupting a healthy relationship with food and potentially leading to serious consequences.

According to the World Health Organization, nutrient needs are higher during adolescence than at any other point in the life cycle, making it a crucial time to get the best diet for a teenager. Proper nutrition fuels the rapid growth and hormonal changes that define this challenging but important life stage.

Every cell in the human body contains protein, making it an essential building block for life. For children and teenagers, understanding why protein is important for growing bodies is crucial for ensuring proper physical and cognitive development.

While sixteen is often seen as a major milestone, with teens gaining new freedoms like driving, the period between ages 16 and 17 involves significant yet subtle shifts in cognitive maturity and legal status. For many, the difference between 16 and 17 is less about a single dramatic change and more about a steady, transitional evolution toward adulthood.

According to the National Institutes of Health, energy requirements peak during adolescence—a time of rapid growth and changes in body composition. So, what are the energy requirements for teens, and how can they be met to support healthy development?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, an active 17-year-old male may need up to 3,200 calories per day, while their sedentary counterpart needs closer to 2,400. This wide range highlights that there is no single answer to a teenager's daily caloric needs, as it depends heavily on individual factors like sex, metabolism, and physical activity.