Assets of cooking

The teen years are often when a girl begins to compare body types and may find herself unhappy with her weight. Overweight teen girls benefit health-wise when they lose excess weight, but being at a normal weight improves self-esteem as well. If you want to diet, be sure you are doing so in a healthy way by making positive changes to your eating and exercise habits. Talk with your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise program.

Successfully losing weight and keeping it off is more likely if you do so slowly. Aim to lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week by making healthy eating choices and getting plenty of exercise. Be sure you get enough calories to support your daily activities. Making gradual changes will seem like less work and won't leave you feeling so deprived. For example, add one piece of fruit each day for one week, the next week switch to water instead of soda and then add a walk around the block each day the week after. Building new habits over time make it more likely that you will lose weight and keep it off.

Including a variety of foods from each food group helps ensure that you are meeting your nutrient requirements each day. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy and healthy fats. A meal plan based on these items controls your calorie intake while increasing your nutrient intake. These foods offer fiber to fill your stomach and prevent overeating and carbohydrates and protein for energy and strength. Include these foods at every meal and snack to keep energy levels and blood sugar stable throughout the day. Skipping meals increases your chances of reaching for an unhealthy snack or meal because you have gotten too hungry.

Most fast food is very high in fat and calories and is not a good inclusion in a healthy diet. Try packing a lunch or eating dinner at home before evening activities. This allows you more control over what you eat. If you plan to eat fast food with friends, balance your calorie intake for the rest of the day so that you don't overdo it. Use the nutritional information that fast food restaurants make available so that you can make an informed decision about which meal is your best bet.

If you don't know how much a serving of food is, you may be eating more calories than you think. Use the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations regarding how many servings from each food group you need each day. This will differ depending on your age and level of physical activity. Weigh and measure your food until you are able to eyeball what a serving size looks like. This will ensure that you aren't eating more calories than you think, which will hinder your weight loss goals.