Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend a good resource where my 17 yr old DS can learn about nutrition? I am very healthy & fit but obviously as an almost 50 yr old mother, I don't think my still developing DS should eat the way I do. He is interested in learning more about what it means to eat a healthy well rounded diet to support his activity level. Any suggestions?

Op I’m a sports dietitian in DC and I work with a lot of teens. So happy to hear that your son is interested in this topic! A few sessions with a qualified registered dietitian would be a good investment. You want an RD- not someone who is just a “nutritionist.” Go to the web site of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), put in your zip code and you will find RDs by specialty

Ask your pediatrician or his doctor for a teen nutritionist recommendation.

Also, if he has a high school or team coach, ask him what his messages or resources are to the teams or for your kid.

I will say that my 16 year old is a high performer in a varsity sport, and the nutrition messages he’s gotten from his school coach have been relatively nil, especially for how much they are practicing. That and lack of adequate stretching/flexibility training seem to be the weaknesses of high school sports.

Not to be alarmist; but also keep a close eye on him and what he eats. Many eating disorders begin with adolescents wanting to ‘eat healthy’. Athletes at higher risk. Just be careful…

Find a nutritionist?

Can anyone recommend a good resource where my 17 yr old DS can learn about nutrition? I am very healthy & fit but obviously as an almost 50 yr old mother, I don't think my still developing DS should eat the way I do. He is interested in learning more about what it means to eat a healthy well rounded diet to support his activity level. Any suggestions?