A teenager’s mood shifts are often attributed to hormones.
(Side note ….So Are Women’s ALL the time. HUMMMMM)
I believe this is in part true, the latest research clearly shows that food, yes food affects our moods. While this is news to many, it really shouldn’t be.
Consciously or unconsciously we as a nation are using food as a drug… Something to help us cope with our emotions good and bad. Food helps us celebrate and feel good it, helps us feel “better” when we are down and feeling blue.
Often times our children are loading up on refined processed carbs like quick pizza’s, high sugar cereals, donuts, french fries, just to name a few. No wonder when you least expect it you are in countering “Teenage Rage”. Once the sugar from the processed carbs drops them down ,there is nowhere to go but crashing into anger and agitation mode, which they haven’t learned how to masked as well as you yet. Add a little school pressure, athletic competitive pressure and the hormones..Yikes….It’s not pretty. And when you as a parent have had a tough day too…Momma Mia.
So now attach this little scenario on top. Your tweenie, teenager is in the middle of a competition, where she hasn’t fueled well, hydrated properly, didn’t get enough sleep the night before because she was up texting, talking and watching TV. What do you think they and you might get in return???
A. A kid that crying because she just got beat by someone that has never even been close
B. More attitude because he beat the normal field ran well, but she is still agitated and can’t express why.
C. Confusion about their feelings in general not attached to the event or athletic performance
Here are some tips to help you and your tweenie, teen take control of their mood fluctuations using healthy food:
- Talk first: Appeal to their narcissism.Explain how healthy foods will help them grow in all the right ways, make their skin look better, and help stabilize their moods.Then make a list of foods that they like, may not love, but will be willing to eat.
- Breakfast, breakfast, breakfast: Make eggs or better yet teach your teen to make them.Eggs are an excellent source of protein and have the omega 3 fatty acids that assist in brain development and act as an anti-depressant.
- Snacks: find something they like that’s healthy.Cashews?String cheese? Trail mix?Fruit? Dried fruit (without the added sugar.)Pop corn?Even a bit healthier cookies (e.g., Fig Newtons) are better than junk.
- Dinner: teenagers can be bigger babies than, well, babies.Dinner is a time to put good food in front of your teen, and expand their horizons just a little.”Just have one bite of the (spinach.)”Maybe, your teen will start eating brown rice, kale, or swiss chard.
- Supplements: I believe they work to help enrich our basic diet a good multiple vitamin that include basic minerals
Our moods dictate how we view the world and the world views us. It can take us to high high’s and low lows when it isn’t balanced. Help your athletes with healthy sound food choices, get them into the good food act, talk regularly about food and the power it has on our bodies for good.
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