What exactly is good nutrition and how can the foods that teens typically enjoy fit into what the experts say?

Generally, practicing good nutrition means balancing your daily food intake to incorporate healthful amounts of nutrients like protein (lean meats, low-fat milk, legumes), and complex carbohydrates (green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains in bread and cereals). Proper choices should result in foods high in dietary fiber, which are found in many fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. These foods help build muscle, aid digestion and are generally quickly metabolized.

At the same time, good nutrition dictates care in the intake of simple carbohydrates (refined and other sugars)and saturated fats (meat, dairy, many oils). Simple carbs are often called "empty calories", since they have little benefit. And while some fat is necessary in every diet, saturated fats are among the worst.

A typical teen diet can easily be modified to accomodate good nutrition. Fast food is not always the enemy; you just have to be aware of the alternatives to the typical burger-fries-coke that is the antithesis of good nutrition. Incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables as snacks. Sandwiches made with whole wheat bread without cheese and mayonnaise but with lots of veggies is a suprisingly healthy choice. Diet soda (especially sweetened with Splenda) are just as tasty, but with little or no calories. Nonfat milk is best, but 1% tastes just as good as 2%, but with half the fat. Lean chicken or fish entrees, paired with wild rice or baked potato (it's what you put on it that's dangerous!) and green beans or broccoli is as healthy and nutritious a dinner as you will ever eat--and it's delicious!

It only takes a little bit of thinking to make the kinds of changes in your eating habits that will not only help you become a nutritious eater, but a healthier and more energetic one to boot.

Look at the food pyramid to see what good nutrition is. Then fit the foods you like into the pyramid, and fill the holes with other things.

You can make pizza good for you by limiting the amount of meat toppings and adding vegetable toppings so that it is lower fat. You can make hamburgers from lean ground beef. use Salsa with chips instead of dip. Add vegetables to your favorite meals.

Main thing--use common sense.