Sunday
Mar062011
A Note From A Thirteen Year Old Girl
Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 05:09PM
Dear Erika,
Hello there I am a 13y year old girl
I weigh 55kg and I’m about 158 cm tall… Is this typical or will I need to lose just a little weight? My difficulty is that I do not like veggies (I like two in total) and don’t really like fruit. And in my lunch box there may be absolutely nothing but junk meals l(just before you start this isn’t my mums fault). What exactly are some items I could have in my lunch box? The veggies that I do not like are capsicum (red) and cucumber. I dont like sandwiches and do not like many fruits… Fruits I like are watermelon, oranges (when in time) mandarins, I also like green apples but can not eat them at school because they may well break my braces. Do you’ve any ideas what I could have? Also I do not like yogurt or muesli bars. Thank you for your assistance!
Dear Thirteen Year Old Girl,
Thank you so much for your question. I am so glad you wrote to me because as a mom my biggest daily problem is what to pack my daughter for lunch each day. I want it to be healthy and she wants it to be yummy. On top of that, when she eats food containing gluten such as bread and pasta her stomach swells up and she gets a rash. She is not a big fruit lover which makes it difficult. But, here are my suggestions.
1. Protein-
Pick a protein you like such as tuna fish, turkey, chicken, roast beef, hummus, or black bean dip. Keep away from bologna, sausages, and salami because often these are filled with nitrates. Your meal will be based around the protein of the day.
2. Garnish it
Add your protein to a salad or thinly shredded cabbage. If you do not like bread, you are ahead of the game because bread is filled with gluten and sugar and really a food worth avoiding. If the salad does not appeal to you, buy some rice paper, run it under hot water and make a wrap.
3. Dress it up
Add your favorite dressing to the protein. This can be mayo, japanese ginger dressing, caesar dressing, soy sauce, or a vinaigrette.
4. Top it off with a fat
Fat does not make you fat. This is the biggest nutritional myth out there. Choose a healthy fat such as cashews, peanuts, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh ricotta, goat cheese, or avocado. Stay away from saturated fats found in processed foods like cheese slices, chips, and pretzels.
5. Sweeten it up
The night before school, core an apple and fill the inside with raisins and cinnamon. Bake the apple at 350 degrees for a half an hour or until it becomes soft. Let it cool in the fridge overnight. Take that to school as a dessert. It won't hurt your braces and it tastes like apple pie without the crust. Or, if you like pears, peel a pear and poach it in boiling water. Cool in the fridge overnight and take that to school the next day.
Since you are thirteen, you need to take your nutrition into your own hands. This is your body. If you want it to look healthy, it needs to be healthy. Forget about your weight and focus on getting the nutrients into your body that it needs on a daily basis. Do not skip meals or walk around starving because that will only slow your metabolism. In my book, Bonding Over Beauty, I have a whole chapter that addresses this very issue. Also, try to add a multi-vitamin and a pro-biotic to your diet daily. The pro-biotic will help your digestion and aid your stomach in absorbing the nutrients from your foods.
Finally, get yourself a kids cookbook. If you can read, you can cook. This can be a great activity you can do with your mom. And, personally, I believe everyone should know how to cook for themselves. It is a life skill and could be a really great way for you to take control of your nutrition.
Thank you for your question. I hope this helps!
xoxo Erika
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
Please grab my RSS feed at: /?feed=rss
Hello there I am a 13y year old girl
I weigh 55kg and I’m about 158 cm tall… Is this typical or will I need to lose just a little weight? My difficulty is that I do not like veggies (I like two in total) and don’t really like fruit. And in my lunch box there may be absolutely nothing but junk meals l(just before you start this isn’t my mums fault). What exactly are some items I could have in my lunch box? The veggies that I do not like are capsicum (red) and cucumber. I dont like sandwiches and do not like many fruits… Fruits I like are watermelon, oranges (when in time) mandarins, I also like green apples but can not eat them at school because they may well break my braces. Do you’ve any ideas what I could have? Also I do not like yogurt or muesli bars. Thank you for your assistance!Dear Thirteen Year Old Girl,
Thank you so much for your question. I am so glad you wrote to me because as a mom my biggest daily problem is what to pack my daughter for lunch each day. I want it to be healthy and she wants it to be yummy. On top of that, when she eats food containing gluten such as bread and pasta her stomach swells up and she gets a rash. She is not a big fruit lover which makes it difficult. But, here are my suggestions.
1. Protein-
Pick a protein you like such as tuna fish, turkey, chicken, roast beef, hummus, or black bean dip. Keep away from bologna, sausages, and salami because often these are filled with nitrates. Your meal will be based around the protein of the day.
2. Garnish it
Add your protein to a salad or thinly shredded cabbage. If you do not like bread, you are ahead of the game because bread is filled with gluten and sugar and really a food worth avoiding. If the salad does not appeal to you, buy some rice paper, run it under hot water and make a wrap.
3. Dress it up
Add your favorite dressing to the protein. This can be mayo, japanese ginger dressing, caesar dressing, soy sauce, or a vinaigrette.
4. Top it off with a fat
Fat does not make you fat. This is the biggest nutritional myth out there. Choose a healthy fat such as cashews, peanuts, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh ricotta, goat cheese, or avocado. Stay away from saturated fats found in processed foods like cheese slices, chips, and pretzels.
5. Sweeten it up
The night before school, core an apple and fill the inside with raisins and cinnamon. Bake the apple at 350 degrees for a half an hour or until it becomes soft. Let it cool in the fridge overnight. Take that to school as a dessert. It won't hurt your braces and it tastes like apple pie without the crust. Or, if you like pears, peel a pear and poach it in boiling water. Cool in the fridge overnight and take that to school the next day.
Since you are thirteen, you need to take your nutrition into your own hands. This is your body. If you want it to look healthy, it needs to be healthy. Forget about your weight and focus on getting the nutrients into your body that it needs on a daily basis. Do not skip meals or walk around starving because that will only slow your metabolism. In my book, Bonding Over Beauty, I have a whole chapter that addresses this very issue. Also, try to add a multi-vitamin and a pro-biotic to your diet daily. The pro-biotic will help your digestion and aid your stomach in absorbing the nutrients from your foods.
Finally, get yourself a kids cookbook. If you can read, you can cook. This can be a great activity you can do with your mom. And, personally, I believe everyone should know how to cook for themselves. It is a life skill and could be a really great way for you to take control of your nutrition.
Thank you for your question. I hope this helps!
xoxo Erika
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.Please grab my RSS feed at: /?feed=rss
Reader Comments (294)
As a Newbie, I am always glad to find posts that can help me Thank you!!
I really thought the writing in the blog was very complex, in a good way.;)
You make a lot of good points on this blog. Keep up the great work.
Hello there, This website is seriously fascinating and great to read. I’m an enormous fan. I also benefit from studying the reviews. I would also inspire every person to bookmark this web page.
Thanks for this.
Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it's rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.. :)
Appreciate your inforamtion. It is just too greeeeat!
[...] I came across your blog from Google and love this article. Just wondering if you can write more on the topic at hand.
Ohh very much thanks admin.
Having read this material, I have learned for myself.
Thanks for another informative web site. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect way? I've a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such info.
I recently came across your blog and have been absolutely captivated by your writing. I have really enjoyed reading this post. Nice blog and keep up the great work as I will keep visiting this your site often.
Actually truly beneficial web site submit which has got me considering. I never looked at this from your point of view.
You made some first rate points there.
I think the comments are good. Excellent blogging.
nice post :) :) :)
I uncovered this site and liked it. I will grab your RSS feed.
I agree with you totally. Please write more.
Glad to find this information. I have been searching in Google for long time.
I am impressed, your writing skills and the layout on your blog is most informative.
Thanks for a worthwhile entry!
this blog is so beatiful for sure.
I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog.
Well done on a very well written article. J
Your blog is undoubtedly worth a read if anybody comes across it. Im lucky I did because now Ive got a whole new view of this. I didnt realise that this issue was so important and so universal. You undoubtedly put it in perspective for me.