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Health for every stage of life:
The "Student/Teen" addition

There are a few things I wish I knew when I was in my teens and early twenties. One is that bread is not the universal nutrient. Second is that alcohol is in fact the reason I was gaining weight. Third was that my acne and mood swings were signs of hormones struggling to balance themselves because of missing out on all the nutrients my body needed.

As our hormones kick in in our teens, things like calcium, healthy fats, a very good B complex game, and focus on vitamin D is so essential. Missing out on these puts you at greater risk of hormone (specifically sex hormone, but also neurotransmitter) imbalances.

While we live at home, our parents mostly look after our nutrient intake. When we move out as students, or young working adults, getting what we need to thrive may not be a focus at first. Adapting to life on your own can be quite a lot at first and nutrition does not play the major role in survival at this point.

Try this:

• Don’t skip breakfast. Oatmeal, with nut butter, cinnamon, and a sliced apple can be an inexpensive way to start the day.
• Be sure to get a 600ml (or bigger) water bottle for the day. Make it a habit to drink between classes. Fill up the bottle halfway through the day, and then when you get home. Those are your goals.
• If you make your own lunch, pack a sandwich with cold cuts and cheese, and add some fruit. If that’s a little too expensive, buy a cooked chicken at the start of the week, shred it, and keep it in a tub in the fridge. Use a little of this at each meal to supplement the veggies in a salad or add to a sandwich with lettuce and tomato. A cooked chicken can last a whole week if you portion it well between your two main meals in the day.
• Follow a 90/10 rule. 90% clean eating, 10% treat. Life is for living after all. Pick your treats carefully. Don’t waste it on things you don’t really like. Make it worth the wait.
• Remember to get out first thing in the morning: go for a walk in the first day light when everybody else is still faffing in their rooms. Soak up the sunlight. Breathe the fresh air and think through your day ahead. Set yourself up for a positive experience by remembering how awesome you are and what you’re capable of.

You rock so hard. Remember this always. Don’t entertain the haters’ taunts. Don’t listen to everything the adults around you say. Remember who you are and what makes you unique. Nobody can take that from you.

If you need someone to talk to about cheap nutrition tips on a tight budget, or even just discuss some ways to fit everything into your day, contact us. We’re happy to help out with information.

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