| Nutrition comes primarily from what a person | | | | the teen from becoming overly hungry between |
| eats and drinks. Some people supplement their | | | | meals that can lead to over eating at mealtime. |
| nutrition by taking vitamins. Autistic teenagers, as | | | | Protein is supplied by meat, poultry, fish, dry |
| well as teenagers without autism, need healthy | | | | beans, eggs and nuts. When cooking meat it is |
| nutrition and a level of exercise that is very | | | | best to either bake, broil, or grill. This decreases |
| important to meet the demands of their growing | | | | the fat content. |
| body. | | | | Vegetables supply the body with vitamin A and C, |
| The best nutritional plan for everyone is to eat a | | | | and minerals like iron and magnesium, also fiber. |
| healthy variety of foods at the proper portion | | | | Be sure to have good color variety, light ad dark |
| throughout the day. The amount of food a | | | | green, yellow, red, orange, white and purple. |
| person needs will vary depending on their level of | | | | Fruits provide vitamin A and C and potassium. |
| activity. An active person, such as an autistic | | | | Avoid canned with HEAVY SYRUP because of the |
| young teenage adult, requires a higher caloric | | | | high sugar content. Again, have a variety of |
| intake to meet the demands of their body using | | | | colors, red, yellow, green, purple, orange, blue. |
| up that energy faster. A less active person, | | | | Grains provide energy in the form of complex |
| needs proper nutrition in smaller amounts. This will | | | | carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fiber. This |
| decrease the risk of these extra calories being | | | | can be found in breads, cereals, rice, pasta and |
| stored in their body as fat. | | | | nuts. |
| Many young boys have a period of time when | | | | During the daytime PAY ATTENTION TO THE |
| their body rapidly grows. During this time the teen | | | | SERVING SIZE on the labels. This is a good guide. |
| may have an endless appetite. Boys have a | | | | It is also helpful to eat the majority of your foods |
| growth spurt beginning at ages 12 to 13. This | | | | earlier in the day rather than late at night. During |
| growth peaks around age 14 and usually ends at | | | | the daytime we are more active and the use of |
| about age 19. During this time their hormones | | | | calories for the energy needed throughout the |
| change, and their muscles, bones and even their | | | | day seem to wear off sooner than at night. |
| brain continues to grow. It is not uncommon for a | | | | Autistic young adults may take certain |
| teenage boy to gain between 37 and 40 pounds | | | | medications to help their brain function the best it |
| during these years. Some of this weight varies | | | | can, this adds the challenge of maintaining a |
| depending on how tall or muscular they become. | | | | proper weight. The medications tend to add |
| The food should be a good balance of vitamins | | | | weight so it is best to help them with a healthy |
| and minerals. Their bones need a good source of | | | | nutritional plan and regular exercise. It may be an |
| calcium. Most people get their calcium from | | | | excellent idea to discuss with your physician or |
| drinking low fat milk (1 or 2%), through orange | | | | experts in this field. |
| juice with added calcium, and low fat cheeses | | | | Exercise on a regular basis is important to |
| (mozzarella string cheese is a favorite for many.) | | | | everyone. It not only helps with weight control, |
| Dairy products not only provide calcium they are | | | | but also keeps our bodies flexible. Exercise |
| also a good source of protein. Milk is a good | | | | provides strength to our muscles/bones, helps us |
| source of vitamin D. | | | | calm down and think clearer, breathe better and |
| Snacking is important to maintain the energy | | | | in general feel good. This applies to autistic |
| supple the body needs. This also helps prevent | | | | teenagers as well. |