Putting a Healthy Twist on Summer Eating

Now that farmers markets are in full swing and summer grilling season is here, it’s a great time to encourage nutritious eating and drinking habits that can benefit your teen year-round. Teenagers need a healthy balance of nutrients—proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals—to support their growth and development, provide fuel, and promote digestion and skin health. Good nutrition can help protect against obesity, osteoporosis, cavities, and chronic conditions down the road. Eating well can also help teens feel better right now. We know youths in this country don’t eat enough vegetables and fruits and consume too much sugar, salt, and ...

Why It's Important to Pay Attention to Teen Depression

George was in middle school when something inside him changed. He was bored in school and had few friends. Sleeping was a challenge. He wished he’d never been born because then he wouldn’t feel so awful. Finally, he spoke up to his parents, and together they realized he might be suffering from depression. They got professional help, and after several months of medication and talk therapy, George began to feel like himself again. “Kids with depression think nobody else goes through it,” says George, now in college. “You feel like nobody knows you. Having [professionals] who understood what I was ...