LEAN INTO THE DESIRE FOR Bureau OF TEENS
Some parents who are concerned for their children’s health may try to make them eat healthier, but doing so may make teenagers feel pressured and uncomfortable.
According to studies, young folks want to demonstrate their freedom and choose for themselves when it comes to food. Therefore, the right setting and communications may aid teenagers in making wiser decisions.
Bubble drink, for instance, is a form of personalization. Teenagers have the option of selecting the flavor and topping they want. If they view lowering sugar amounts as a custom, only with some additional health information, they might be more willing to try it.
The change in mindset and behavior could last for a longer period of time if it were framed as the freedom of choice rather than being forced by kids or having to withdraw from their favorite drinks.
There is undoubtedly more that can be done to assist teenagers, such as tailoring connections to help them comprehend the importance of avoiding sweetened beverages. A growing girl may find it helpful to put things into perspective, such as stating that the 34g of honey in a could of traditional Coke is one and half times their recommended daily intake.
Teenagers do, however, frequently use social media, which exposes them to foreign celebrities and ads that Singaporean laws do not permit. Teenagers must decide whether to eat healthily or imitate their deities.
This emphasizes how crucial it is to inform teenagers about healthier eating. Although it may not be possible to completely control what they consume online, it is possible for them to constantly become aware of the value of eating healthily and how to go about doing so.
The new Nutri-Grade labels in Singapore have the potential to influence teenagers ‘ preferences and tastes for a healthier way of life, both indirectly through recipe industry reformulation and the provision of healthier options, and directly through influencing teens ‘ awareness of their own independent choices.
Aditeya Das is a UWCSEA scholar in Dover, Singapore, in class 11.