Part of growing up is taking responsibility for the things we consume. Hopefully, parents have instilled healthy eating and drinking habits in their children, but once kids get to the teenage years, they will start to have more control over what they put in their bodies, whether at school or in other social situations. The truth is they don’t always take the responsibility seriously, so parents need to be vigilant and continue to guide them as much as they can.
It used to be that too much candy or carbonated beverages were the biggest worries parents had to deal with in terms of healthy eating and teens. But the market for drinks and snacks that target teens has grown considerably, so parents need to be aware of the following consumables and help limit or steer their kids away from them altogether.
The coffee rush
A morning cup of coffee and the caffeine jolt it provides is an American staple, helping adults wake up and face the day. In Miami-Dade County, that often means a Cuban coffee or café con leche that is even stronger. But kids are still developing and caffeine can be harmful for them - the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found no safe dose of caffeine for children under 12. For teens, the AAP recommendation is no more than one cup of coffee, but with the popularity of Starbucks, Dunkin and other businesses among teens, keeping coffee consumption down can be difficult.
Although coffee in the morning is a big part of many cultures in South Florida, parents should talk to their teens about limiting how much they drink and inform them of some of the dangers of consuming too much, including excess caffeine and sugar intake. Let them know that over caffeination can contribute to serious health problems like sleep interruption, anxiety, headaches and an upset stomach.
Energy drink inertia
Many parents didn’t even have the option of consuming energy drinks when they were growing up as they were not around, but since Red Bull was introduced to the United States in the late 1990s, and a number of other brands joined it since, kids have been attracted to the sweet tasting, caffeine-filled drinks. If coffee is used as a pick-you-up in the morning, then energy drinks are often used for teens for a boost from everything from late-night studying to partying.
But parents should know that many of these drinks contain even more caffeine than other caffeinated drinks, including some that have as much caffeine in a single 200 milligram bottle as drinking almost six Coca-Colas. Again, overconsumption, which can come easily because of the high content of caffeine, can lead to heart problems, anxiety and digestive issues. The situation has garnered national attention and there have been calls for the Food and Drug Administration to study some energy drinks’ dangerous levels of caffeine.
The AAP recommends that teens do not consume energy drinks, but in some studies up to half of adolescents report drinking them, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even so, 75 percent of secondary schools do not have policies against energy drinks, although Miami-Dade County does have a policy against selling drinks with added caffeine in its vending machines.
Too much spice
A more recent phenomenon for teens involves ultra spicy chips and snacks that have garnered an almost cult-like following. Hot Cheetos and Takis are the most popular brands of chips, but there are several others which can be harmful to teens if consumed in excess. A recent social media trend that went viral - the spicy tortilla chip challenge - even resulted in the death of a teen who had a preexisting heart condition.
Even healthy kids must be careful with overconsumption. It’s unhealthy to eat too many chips in general, but the ingredients of some of the extra-spicy chips can lead to trouble. There have already been multiple reports of increased visits to the emergency room from teens who are eating too many of these spicy treats. Although most of these visits are not serious - red stools are often confused for blood, even if they are most likely a result of red dye coloring found in these chips - there are unhealthy consequences to overconsumption, including stomach pains (which could lead to bigger problems over time) and obesity.
One of the great things about growing up for our children is getting greater responsibility, but that comes with added accountability as well. When it comes to what they put into their bodies, teens still need good direction from their parents, especially with so many forces pushing them in different, and often negative, directions. As it pertains to coffee, energy drinks and other questionable foods, parents need to talk with their children and explain the consequences to make sure they can make the best decision possible.