Coffee for Teens

[Anonymous]

The key is to limit the caffeine - by time of day, by quantity, or in some other person-specific way, just so the person sleeps well at night.

Coffee or Tea per se is not unhealthy. Either will stain teeth, though.

[Anonymous]

My HS kid drinks Celsius (I do too occasionally). He doesn't like the taste of coffee. My college kids drink coffee drinks, but in reality, they are milkshakes with negligible amounts of coffee in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gotta laugh at the parents who are ok with their teens having social media, vaping, having s*x, eating junk food, and dyeing their hair with professional grade chemicals, yet think coffee is dangerous.

We don’t do any of the above save the junk food but thanks for playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We wouldn’t allow coffee. It’s just so bad for you.

It's actually good for you, unless you are having more than 5 cups a day (which is crazy).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/coffee-and-health/faq-20058339

Doctors have said for years that teens and children shouldn’t be consuming caffeine.

They've also said that teens should be able to sleep in much later. We make them get up at 6 or 7, and then sit still in mostly boring classes for 7 hours .... none of that is developmentally appropriate and expecting them to do it without caffeine is probably just not realistic. Also, realistically, older teens have been drinking caffeine for probably hundreds of years, especially considering that for much of human history 16 year olds were MUCH more likely to be working than they were to be engaging in studious or recreational pursuits.

I wish they sold some of the energy drinks like Monster in MUCH smaller cans. Mine opens one in the morning and drinks a few sips, then has a few more in the afternoon, and then we throw half of it out every day. I hate that stuff but she won't drink tea or coffee.

You sound like an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not coffee drinkers, and we have a rising senior in the house. Senior year is rough with a full schedule and lots of outside responsibilities. I bought a leakproof mug so he can bring tea or coffee to school.

Does your teens drink coffee? How often? Mine started drinking tea last year to help stay alert during his afternoon classes. He says a lot of his friends drink coffee. We're not against it - just don't know much bc we don't even own a coffee maker.

Why is this? It's supposed to be the easiest year of school of all of them. Senioritis is a thing.

Senioritis usually hits second semester after all the college apps are in. Our DC has a full load of classes, top responsibility for a couple student groups (+ leaving them in a good place for kids moving up), finishing up outside commitments, plus college apps. It's full steam til first semester finals and then can relax a bit second semester.

I got senioritis my sophomore year when started driving.

[Anonymous]

My kids are not coffee drinkers. They are college students now. No starbucks habit either.

We didn't have a strong opinion about it because they were not into it. DH is a coffee drinker and he takes his time brewing the perfect cup.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Both teens drink “cortados” each morning. It’s great. Very tasty and packed with protein. Not an issue.

[Anonymous]

It’s probably better than the giant sugary Starbucks drinks the girls will be getting on campus every morning in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key is to limit the caffeine - by time of day, by quantity, or in some other person-specific way, just so the person sleeps well at night.

Coffee or Tea per se is not unhealthy. Either will stain teeth, though.

It erodes tooth enamel also.

There is really nothing healthy about coffee. Even alcohol is better than coffee on a per serving basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably better than the giant sugary Starbucks drinks the girls will be getting on campus every morning in college.

This. And I have Starbucks obsessed teen girls even though I only drink coffee at home and I don’t pay for their Starbucks.

I try to just focus the conversation on minimizing unhealthy choices. So drinks with sugar, caffeine, etc. should be had in moderation and definitely no more than once per day. A couple times a week would be better. Encourage water, produce, etc. but the years I am able to influence it at all are almost over.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would encourage it? I teach high school and see so many kids drinking energy drinks and diet sodas, all of which are clearly less healthy than a simple coffee.

[Anonymous]

My kids don’t like it, but I grew up drinking milk coffee from when I was a child. It was of course milk with maybe 1/4 tsp coffee or so - for color when I was younger but by teen it had more coffee in it.

If the teen wants to drink coffee start with more watered down, mixed with milk. 1 cup would be fine.

[Anonymous]

One doesn’t. But I think it’s fine. Better than drinking soda or even worse, energy drinks.

[Anonymous]

For the afternoon at school they now have those “that’s it” dried fruit snacks with caffeine added (I think they say it’s the same as one espresso). That might be healthier and easier than a soda or energy drink (my kids like to minimize trips to the bathroom during the school day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the afternoon at school they now have those “that’s it” dried fruit snacks with caffeine added (I think they say it’s the same as one espresso). That might be healthier and easier than a soda or energy drink (my kids like to minimize trips to the bathroom during the school day).

Thanks! I haven't heard of these dried fruit snacks. Looking them up now.