TEEN THOUGHTS: BEING HEALTHY

Written by VSJ – May 07

What do you do to keep active? Are you even staying active? Do you eat healthy foods or are you just eating junk food all the time? These questions are usually the farthest things from a teenage mind. This month I want talk to you about getting healthy and staying that way.

The average teenager wakes up in the morning and doesn’t even think about breakfast before leaving the house. On the weekends, we may wake up late and skip right to lunch. We hear everyday from our parents, teachers, even our peers that eating a good breakfast is a great way to start the day, but as teenagers, we usually disregard these statements. Did you know that breakfast is the meal that tells your body that it’s a new day and to start bodily functions that help you maneuver throughout the day?  Not only should you eat a healthy breakfast, but you should also eat regularly throughout the day to keep your metabolism high. When you have a high metabolism, your body is able to digest your food quickly and burn off the unnecessary fat that is stored in your body. I asked a couple of students if they actually eat breakfast in the morning, and if they don’t, how do they feel at the beginning of the day.

Sometimes I eat breakfast; if I don’t, I usually feel sick or get a headache. – Kevin K. 16

I eat breakfast everyday at school. I notice that some of my other friends usually complain about being hungry when they don’t [eat breakfast]. – Xavier T. 16

Eating healthy is just the first step to living a healthy life. Exercise is one of the most important factors of a healthy life. Exercise also keeps your metabolism high and keeps your body tone and fit. Imagine your body as a tin machine. If a tin machine is not constantly oiled and in constant motion, the machine will rust and will not work properly. Now picture healthy foods as the oil and constant motion as exercise; without these two components, your body may start to malfunction and shut down. Experts suggest that teenagers get active for at least 30 minutes a day. Getting active can range from walking around the block to playing basketball with your friends. I asked couple of teenagers how they keep active.

I play basketball like everyday. I play [basketball] sometimes before and after school. – Kervin C. 15  

I’m a cheerleader. When I don’t cheer, I dance. So between those two things, I stay really active. – Ebony W. 15

I’m not the healthiest person in the world, but I’m making certain changes to my lifestyle so I can live a long healthy life. Being healthy allows your body to function properly and enables you to grow appropriately.

This month, I hope you make the decision to live a healthy life and make the necessary changes to do so. If you feel that this article was helpful to you, don't keep it to yourself, spread the word because remember, the choices YOU make today, shape OUR world tomorrow.