Show hat to Eat at an and Why Y YC C C. Houston Goudiss Gives Practical Advice on Feeding Teen Age Child Describes Some Special Food Needs of Both Boys and Girls By B C. C HOUSTON GOUDISS around the twelfth year in girls and the thir thir- thirteenth thirteenth B BEGINNING B year in boys the rate of growth is greatly aced- aced rated crated Then children require large quantities of food to r meet the needs of their rapidly maturing bodies and they usually develop huge appetites Unfortunately however they are often inclined to overlook the foods that are most to health to eat at odd hours and to stuff them- them with rich combinations selves the severely y tax the I that may m y digestive system I Mothers may find it t exceedingly exceed exceed- exceedingly difficult to deal with their all through the teens when physiological changes are taking place which mark the transition from childhood to maturity For along with the development of his fast growing body the childs child's emotional life un un- undergoes undergoes undergoes a pro pro- profound profound profound found and disturbing disturb disturb- disturbing disturbing ing change The Thep p boy or girl who was formerly ame ame- amenable amenable amenable to direction suddenly exhibits a 4 desire for inde He becomes be be- becomes becomes comes jumpy and irritable and the wish to direct his own life extends even to his choice of food Mothers lothers must mobilize all the patience and forbearance at their command must command must make it their sol sol- solemn solemn solemn duty to see sec that their ado ado- adolescent adolescent adolescent children have the foods they require for growth for stam stam- stamina stamina stamina ina and for building resistance to disease For the stress and strain of adolescence will be far more easily weathered by boys and girls who are properly nourished Quality Important as Quantity During the years of greatest growth boys and girls frequently t require more food than their fa fa- fathers fathers fathers or mothers But it is es es- essential essential essential that the diet be well balanced bal bal- balanced balanced I and of the highest nutritive r value It should include an abundance abundance abundance dance of easily digested energy foods such as breadstuffs pota pota- potatoes potatoes potatoes toes cereals and macaroni prod prod- products products products as well as liberal quantities of the more concentrated fuel foods such as butter or marga marga- rine There must be an ample supply of high quality protein protein- I which is furnished by meat fish r eggs cheese and milk milk to to build r the new muscle tissue required to cover the lengthening frames of the boys and help build the round round- rounded rounds s ed contours of the girls w Need for Minerals and Vitamins There must be ample amounts I II I of the various minerals minerals especial especial especially ly calcium and phosphorus for fer the teeth and bones and to help build sound healthy nerves j iodine for proper functioning of the thyroid gland iron for building increased quantities of rich red blood Every vitamin must be included in the adolescents adolescent's diet to promote nor nor- normal normal normal mal health and development but vitamin A is especially valuable at this time of rapid growth and vitamin B is also required in lib lib- liberal liberal liberal eral amounts to meet the extra de de- demands demands de- de demands mands of increased activity and growth A Quart of Milk Daily It is highly desirable that the diet should include a quart of milk daily because b cause milk is such a splendid source so of calcium and vitamin A as well as other necessary necessary necessary sary minerals and vitamins If children have been brought up with a wholesome respect for this master food they will continue to drink it during their teens However if they complain about aboul taking it as a beverage mothers should see that it is supplied by byway byway byway way of cream soups and sauces with cereals and in nutritious pudding pud pud- t r ding desserts which can be en en- enriched enc c riched with eggs thus providing s I additional proteins minerals and vitamins Fruits and Vegetables Fruits should be eaten freely freely- at least twice a day day and and the high high- caloric dried fruits such as prunes and dates may be used to ad ad- advantage advantage advantage vantage along with bananas or or- oranges oranges oranges anges grapefruit apples and oth oth- other other other er fresh fruits as well as the many varieties that come in cans Cooked and raw vegetables should be provided liberally liberally-if if possible at both lunch and dinner Dressing cooked vegetables with butter Hitter or margarine will increase their fuel value and make them more satisfying for hungry boys Girls who are often orten finicky eaters during their adolescent years can usually be tempted with crisp raw vegetables served in the form of salads and protein can be added by b means of eggs cheese fish or chicken Boys Need More Food Than Girls There is a marked difference be- be between between tween the fuel requirements of teen age boys and girls Both must have a well balanced diet But the boys need many more calories and therefore should have lave a more generous allowance of highly concentrated foods which supply necessary fuel with a min- min minimum minimum mum tax on the digestive system They should have cereals in gen gen- size erous-size portions portions and and its it's advis advis- advisable advisable advisable able to choose part of the cereals from Tom those retaining the bran and the germ And they'll welcome nourishing desserts such as cus- cus custard tard ard tapioca bread and corn- corn cornstarch cornstarch cornstarch starch puddings Girls Warned Against Reducing Girls on the other hand may become fussy and try to cut down radically on the fuel foods with the he foolish idea of keeping I fash fash- fashionably fashionably fashionably thin This must not be permitted because it may result in under-nutrition under which opens the way to fatigue and nervousness and may lead to serious disease In addition to wholesome nour nour- nourishing nourishing nourishing food teen age boys and girls should have plenty of rest sunshine and healthful outdoor ex ex- And they also deserve the sympathy and deep understanding g of their parents C. C. C Houston Goudiss 1939 1939 59 |