How to get teen to eat right?
 

Just wondering if anyone else has this type of situation or experience. My 16 yr old stepdaughter was recently diagnosed with PCOS, and the nutritionist recommended we do The Zone or South Beach. We picked South Beach since I already follow that plan most of the time. She is also a vegetarian, but not the right kind if you get my meaning. She won't eat meat and that's fine, but she also tends not to really eat vegetables either. Mostly white bread, crackers, chips, etc. - the type of vegetarianism that a couple of her friends follow too. Anyway, I think she was hoping for a non-dietary solution b/c she has resisted changing her eating habits even if I don't buy the stuff she eats. She just brings her own stash for the weekend. I'd just like any suggestions on how to coax her into eating better. I know she has to make the effort, but is there any way to light that fire?

My oldest son is 18 and over time I learned that he responded to factual articles on the subject. In addition I'd tell him in detail what's happening in his body with what he was eating and it helped in getting him to listen. It's not perfect yet but at least I made some progress. Each of us respond differently to information and with teens you have to be so careful to not come off as lecturing too much. I would suggest thinking up a variety of approaches to the subject and try each one out very gently from time to time and see what sticks the most. With my son it was hard facts in detail, for someone else it could be something as simple as pointing out how much more energy they'd have or how they'd improve their chances of staying clear of disease, etc.

Joe