Making Your Kitchen Teen-Friendly
As kids get older, they gain more personal freedom like spending time away from home and learning to drive, and with that freedom comes the opportunity to make their own decisions about the food and drinks they consume. As a parent, one of the things you can do that will help them now and in the future is to have healthy foods in your kitchen that they can prepare and eat on their own.
Certain food items will help your teenager learn to cook, which will reduce their fast-food intake and consumption of convenience store staples like candy and soft drinks.
Stock your kitchen with these easy-to-prepare staples to show your teen just how easy it is to make a quick meal!
Popcorn
Popcorn could be mistaken as an unhealthy snack, but it�s loaded with fiber, which is helpful in digestive process. Investing in a popcorn popper could be a smart decision, as one serving could equal nearly four grams of fiber.
Nut Butters
Nut and seed butters � such as almond, peanut or sunflower butter � are all great for teens because they are simple, delicious, and don�t require cooking. Spread on toast, eat with a banana or use as dip for apples or celery.
Eggs
Whether fried, scrambled or hard-boiled, they are easy to cook, convenient and cost-friendly. Eggs are also an ideal food for teen cooks because they are a great source of protein, vitamin D, vitamin B 12, choline, and phosphorus which are all essential nutrients.
Prepped Vegetables
Whether your teen is a fan of vegetables or not, having some produce readily available will make the teens more likely to eat them. Pre-cut baby carrots and grape tomatoes make great snacks for your teen and their friends to grab and go.
Fresh Fruit
Fruit like apples and oranges make for a quick and easy snack, and they can be easily added to salads or as a simple side dish for a meal.
Canned Beans
When looking for a quick meal, canned beans are as easy as it gets! They are perfect to include with burritos, tortilla bread or added to soup.
Grains
Instant brown rice and quinoa are great examples of grains that are quick and easy to make. A few vegetables tossed with whole grains and seasoned with soy sauce is a quick, simple and healthy meal.
Lean Protein
Teens can catch on quickly, so there�s no reason not to start teaching your teen how to bake, grill or broil marinated chicken, fish or beef.
Source: Eatright.org