The Chicago Reporter

    Well, I just read an article about healthy eating and saw how adults might actually think that all teens are vain. Shocking, I know. Anyway, the article advised parents to tell their teens the kind of stuff they’d tell younger kids like: if they drink lots of milk, they could be as tall as giants. Then, as teenagers, they’d say if we get lots of iron in our diets then we’ll ace our physics test and be able to stay up all night. The stories were ALL lies, but they’re pushing us in the right direction.

    Let’s look at the facts, shall we? You know how on Thanksgiving the little kids break the turkey’s wish bone, but, in the wild, turkeys fight each other and no one breaks a thing. Well that’s because the turkey in the wild is still eating his nutrients and is able to get away from the farmer’s yard, while the other just eats fatty foods and walks right up to the chopping block, thus becoming the holiday meal. So, I don’t know about all of you out there but I don’t believe in believe in dying for some junk food and soda. So it’s time that we try to join the cross-country team so we can run like wild turkeys.
    So boys, be ready to hear some things your ears aren’t ready to hear. And ladies, you might want to say goodbye to those deep-fried and fatty foods that you love. Okay, according to helpguide.org, boys should only consume around 2,500 to 2,800 calories a day, and girls should maintain about 2,200 calories a day. Now that means this is the average amount of calories your body needs to function and grow. The main ways you get these calories the right way is through lean protein, low-fat dairy, whole grains, fruits and veggies.  But always remember that calories are in everything, not just the good stuff, but the bad foods like triple-chocolate chip cookies. Now, I’m not saying you have to eat bland, nasty pastries, just help it along.
    Like instead of triple-chocolate chip cookies, you can eat regular chocolate chip cookies. And if you really want to take that up a notch, you can make your own cookies so that they taste good and are good for you, too. Really simple conversions of original chocolate chip cookies can really make a difference. Like, for instance, you could substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips or even dark chocolate for milk chocolate chips. Then instead of using the white sugar—that you put in your grits, coffee (you know you drink it like crazy), or anything else—use brown sugar. Also, use an egg substitute instead of eggs and use wheat flour instead of white flour.
    But just because these cookies have slightly more nutritional value doesn’t mean you should go on with your habit of only eating sweets for snacks—vegetables aren’t just for dinner. Try something a little different every week or so, like eating carrots for a snack. Then try going a bit more serious, like bringing left-over dinner for lunch instead of the same old lunch. Break the ever so boring song-and-dance and shake it up a little with foods that you would think only adults like. For instance, cold pasta salad with bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots and Italian dressing. A little can go a long way in changing your diet and making you feel like you’re on top of the world.
    And I know I’m going to sound like a deranged health nut, but if your food isn’t helping you, then what’s the point of even eating it.

    So, until next time, remember corn isn’t a vegetable and tomato is a fruit.

--Franchesca