Introduction Envision an elderly woman who is very weak, frail, and sickly looking. She cannot take part in normal daily activities, due to her ailment. She has very thin hair, skin, and nails. This woman appears to have aged physically beyond her years. She cannot enjoy the hobbies that she has in the past, because of the lack of muscle strength and bone density. The majority of her day is spent lying in bed watching television, only getting up when totally necessary to avoid pain and suffering. The cause of this woman's pitiful predicament is her dietary habits. She does not get the proper vitamins and minerals, nor does she practice normal eating patterns (skips meals) which can deter the body to carry out its normal daily functions. An insufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates calories, fat, and vitamins and minerals can cause the body to shut down. Just as a car needs gasoline to run, the human body needs proper nutrients to function. This situation could have been avoided if this woman had been educated properly during her younger years. Nutritional Requirements Good nutrition is important at any age, but especially during adolescence. During this time span from age ten to fifteen for girls and age twelve to nineteen for boys, children's height increases, hormones change, and activities increase (Trends, web). Following the Food Guide Pyramid is the best way to ensure all needed nutrients are obtained. People should eat 6 to 11 servings from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group; 2 to 4 servings from the fruit group; 3 to 5 servings from the vegetable group; 2 to 3 servings from the milk, yogurt, and cheese group; 2 to 4 servings from the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group; and use fats, oils, and sweets sparingly (Anspaugh, 34). Along with following the Food Guide Pyramid , teenagers need a greater amount of calcium for bone growth, strengthening, and to prevent osteoporosis later in life.
