Healthy lifestyles: diet, exercise & sleep

How much teenagers grow in height varies between the different stages of puberty (called Tanner stages) as well as between girls and boys.

Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and control over the choices they make. 

This is a time when you suggest one thing and your young person appears to do exactly the opposite. They can often make decisions about what and when they want to eat, and how they spend their free time.

The media can often be an obstacle, promoting the ‘thin’ body ideal and challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may cause confusion about what a healthy weight and lifestyle is. This has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.  

It is important to listen to what your young people are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Accepting and understanding your child’s point of view, even if you don’t agree, is an essential part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.  

By building good routines around healthy eating and exercise, your child will learn: 

• That people come in all shapes and sizes. 

• That with a balanced diet and regular physical activity, they can maintain a healthy weight. 

• To understand the importance of varied, nutritious food and staying active. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It boosts energy levels, as it will have been a long time since your teenager last ate. 

Having good routines and planning fun breakfasts with your teen can help stop the temptation for them to fill up on sweets/unhealthy snacks. 

See our Healthy eating section for recipe videos, tips for selective eaters, ways to involve the family, and more information. 

Three meals a day

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is the way to go. It takes planning, but try to make sure each meal includes at least one portion of fruit or vegetables and starchy foods such as: 

• whole wheat pasta. 

• wholemeal bread. 

• potatoes with their skins. 

By doing this, you will support a healthy lifestyle for your child and provide routines and habits they continue as they grow up. 

Find ways of working with your young person so that they can eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried all count. Examples of what counts as one of your five a day can be found on the NHS Eatwell website. 

Nutrition Tips for Teenagers 

Boost their iron:

• Teenagers need to eat plenty of foods containing iron, especially for girls who lose iron when they have their period. Iron is important for making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Almost 50% of teenage girls do not get enough iron in their diet. 

Promote foods that build their bones: 

• Teenagers need high amounts of calcium because their bones are growing, in size and density. This makes youth the best time to strengthen bone health for the future. 

Encourage drinking plenty of fluids: 

• Teens need to stay hydrated, especially when exercising. This is because the body loses water as sweat. Aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day, with water and low-fat milk being the best options. Carrying a refillable water bottle can help them stay hydrated throughout the day. 

Find ways to snack sensibly 

To maintain a healthy weight, opt for snacks like: 

• Fruit (fresh or dried) 

• a small handful of unsalted nuts and/or seeds 

• low-fat yoghurts 

• wholemeal pitta bread with lower-fat dips. 

The likelihood is that your young person will eat fast food. These foods can be high in saturated fat, salt, and/or sugars, which can be bad for health when eaten in large amounts. It is important to share the facts with your young person so they can be clear about the choices they make. 

In the digital world, where friendships are frequently online and virtual, there is a risk that teenagers might spend too much time sitting down. Take time to be active with your child, playing sport, going for a bike ride as it can improve sleep, instil good routines, help them maintain a healthy weight and improve their general wellbeing.

On average teenagers should try and do at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, ranging between moderate (e.g. walking or cycling to school) and vigorous activity (e.g. running or playing a sport).

This time can be a great opportunity for them to join a club if they like team sports, which can also be a great way for them to meet new friends.

Sleep is food for the brain and will maintain your teenager's well-being. It is as important as the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. The NHS recommends that teenagers receive at least 8 to 9 hours of good sleep on school nights.

Some tips to help your teenager with sleep include:

Limit digital devices in the bedroom

• Light from the screen interferes with sleep. Digital screens in the bedroom also mean your teenager is more likely to stay up late. If possible do not have them in the bedroom at all. 
• Encourage your teenager to have at least 30 minutes of screen-free time before going to sleep.

Exercise for better sleep

• Regular exercise will help your teenager sleep. This will also improve their general and mental health.

Reduce or cut out caffeine

• Suggest that your teenager drinks less caffeine.  Particularly in the 8 hours before bed. Caffeine is in drinks such as cola, tea, and coffee.  
• Caffeine can stop your teenager from falling asleep.  It can also reduce the amount of deep sleep they have.  Consider providing alternatives that you and your teenager choose together.

Have a good routine

• Encourage your teenager to keep a regular bedtime routine that you agree together. Doing the same things in the same order an hour or so before bed can help them drift off to sleep.

Eating before bedtime

• We know that eating too much, or too little, close to bedtime can lead to an overfull or empty stomach. This can be a cause of discomfort during the night and may prevent sleep.
• Help your teenager get a good night's sleep. Discuss and agree on what bedtime snacks will support their routine. 

Create a sleep-friendly bedroom

• Your teenager needs a good sleeping environment, even if sharing a room with siblings. A room that is dark, cool, quiet, and comfortable. Make sure the bed is still fit for their growing bodies!

Share time to talk through any problems or worries

• This will help your teenager put their problems into perspective and sleep better. Encourage them to jot down their worries or make a to-do list before they go to bed. They will be less likely to lie awake worrying during the night.
• If your teenager is experiencing sleep concerns, you can find support at Young Minds and also BBC Help Me Out – Sleep.

Minimise long weekend lie-ins

• Encourage your teen to not sleep in for hours at weekends. Late nights and long lie-ins can disrupt their body clock. This can also leave them with weekend "jet lag" on Monday morning! 

The Sleep Charity has more information on Teen Sleep Hub.

This content in this section has been co-produced in partnership with The Sleep Charity.

The NHS Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different food types are needed for us all to have a well-balanced and healthy diet.

J Coleman - Conversation not Confrontation provides tips and advice for talking to teenagers