Guest Author - Shanita Alexander

If you're a typical teenager with parents who always nag you about what you eat, how you eat, when you eat and the amount of junk food you consume, these comments will sound familiar to you. Give your parents a break, they are just doing their job. They want you to eat properly so you'll develop, be healthy and keep your moods balanced.

Your body needs certain nutrients to feel well as you go through each day. The most important meal is breakfast, even though it's probably the most difficult for many teens. Breakfast is even more important if you aren't eating lunch on a regular basis and if you're waiting until after school or until dinner to eat.

Teens today have a full schedule in their daily lives. School, work, after school activities and clubs, sports, chores or family responsibilities keep you extremely busy. Not to mention time spent socializing, for relationships and shopping. Here are a few suggestions to help you eat healthy in your busy day to day schedule.

Try not to skip meals. You are more likely to choose foods that are not as healthy when you skip meals and are over – hungry. If you're going to be away from home for a while, try to take a snack with you if you'll be unable to buy a healthy snack. Eating three meals with snacks in between is the best way to maintain energy levels and a healthy weight.

Avoid getting too much sugar. Sugary drinks are a big source of empty energy. They have a lot of energy in the form of calories that your body may not need and they don't have any vitamins or minerals. Try diet sodas or naturally sweet fruit juices. Don't go overboard, if you are going to drink regular soda, try to limit the amount you drink daily.

Lastly, listen to your body. Eating when you are healthy and stopping when you are full will help your body balance its energy needs. Ask yourself, Am I eating because I'm hungry or because I'm stressed or bored? Remember to slow down when you eat. Try to relax and pace yourself so that your meals last at least 20 minutes, since it takes 20 minutes for you to feel full. Along with your parents help, choose a daily multivitamin if you're not receiving the required vitamins and minerals your body needs. Remember eating healthy will give you energy that will last all day and help you stay strong for sports or other activities.