Many of today’s parents can remember back to their own childhood, when a fellow classmate’s birthday was celebrated with a birthday cake, ice cream, cookies, and soda pop. Understandably then, it is shocking for some of these same parents to hear that these treats are now banned in their own child’s classroom. However, while many parents wonder why these sugary snack bans are being enacted, others are pushing for even stricter regulations as researchers continue to link poor diets with childhood obesity and other serious health problems for youngsters.

Unfortunately, even after being educated about the dangers of childhood obesity and the motivations behind these bans, some parents continue to deem this government intervention an unnecessary and unwanted policing of the lives of private citizens. The task at hand for many educators, administrators, and fellow parents is to simply educate the opponents of this ban and to convince them of the merit of these government measures.
Even as this battle is being waged in living rooms, classrooms, and front lawns, researchers are publishing more and more information on the rising rates of childhood obesity in this country and continuing to document the fact that it has reached epidemic levels. Some scientists even predict that this will be the first generation of children in over two hundred years that will have shorter life expectancies than their parents. Levels of overweight children ages 6 to 11 have experienced a large growth in numbers since 1974, expanding over 380% from that year. Children ages 12 to 19 have also experienced a large growth, although it is slightly lower at 258%.

Hopefully, for the sake of all children, the new publications that are being produced by these researchers and the new information that is emerging on the state of children’s health in America will continue to sway parents into believing that these bans are a good and necessary government intervention into their child’s life. And the number of schools that ban the sale of unhealthy snacks and sodas will continue to grow as parents change their minds.

However, for the few stalwart parents that refuse to be converted, proponents of the bans may want to address other concerns. Some parents will be worried that the elimination of snack food vending machines from the schools will take away the flexibility and convenience of the after school snacks that they can provide, unhealthy as they may be. Of course, there are alternatives to the traditional machines, and no one should have to sacrifice health for the sake of convenience. This is where a company like YoNaturals comes into play: providing 100% organic and natural snacks from the convenience of vending machines. The best of both worlds; Who could ask for more?

The teenage years are often some of the most difficult ones of a child’s life, even with respect to something as basic as maintaining a healthy diet. Teens spend so much time with their friends, snacking and eating meals together as they commiserate over life’s circumstances. Further, many of these meals take place in fast food restaurants due to most teenagers’ limited cash flow. These circumstances can mean that teens inadvertently end up eating foods that are chock full of fat, sugar, and calories. Unfortunately, this decrease in diet quality coincides with an increase in nutritional requirements, especially for kids in their early teens as they go through puberty.

Iron and calcium are two of the most important players in this rapid growth phase. Iron is used by the body to carry oxygen to muscles. Teenage girls are especially susceptible to an iron deficiency, and parents should make sure that they are getting plenty of iron-rich foods in their diets. As for calcium, as teenage bodies grow, they have an increased need for the nutrient that will strengthen their skeletal systems. Although the body adjusts to absorb more calcium during these rapid growth phases, some teens simply do not eat enough calcium-rich foods to meet the demand. Deficiencies in these areas can cause both long and short-term problems.

Fortunately, with the guidance of their parents, teens can develop (and maintain) healthy eating habits that will not only benefit them now but also for the rest of their lives. Of course, the best way to meet diverse nutrient needs is by choosing foods from all of the food groups. Although a daily vitamin can be a useful supplement to a well-balanced diet, it should never be used as a substitute for proper nutrition. A well-balanced teen diet is not so dissimilar from a well-balanced adult diet, so building healthy habits as a teen can have benefits that last well into the adult years.

For many teens, another important aspect of maintaining their overall health is making sure that they get enough exercise. As with their adult and child counterparts, a lack of exercise is one of most basic causes of teen obesity. It is important for teens to be physically active on a regular basis in order to build muscle and develop strong bones. Going for runs or walks; playing soccer, ultimate Frisbee, or flag football; or taking dance or karate classes are all good ways for teens to ramp up their physical activity levels.

It all starts with educating teens about what kinds of foods they are putting into their bodies. Encourage them to choose healthy snacks from YoNaturals vending machines (even when mom and dad are not around) for a lifetime of good health.