With autumn approaching many teens will be packing their bags as they head off for a new life at college. Understandably parents may be anxious that students will make the most of their new-found freedom and their diet and lifestyle may suffer as a consequence.

Unfortunately it’s a fact that many teenagers gain weight in their first year at college. But good news is at hand. There are plenty of resources out there that might just make the difference.
Two of the main barriers to healthy eating are poor cooking skills and limited budgets.

Alongside H·E·A·R·T UK’s recipes and advice, check out these simple and affordable resources:

Cooking Up a Storm – The teen survival cookbook by Sam Stear - a cook book written by a teenager for teenagers

Quick, Cheap and Easy Food and Quick Recipe Ideas – two of the many resources available from the British Dietetic Association at www.teenweightwise.com

For recipes for real beginners and more established cooks, check out recipes from the British Nutrition Foundation at www.nutrition.org.uk

Check out easy 10-minute taster recipes at www.cannedfood.co.uk

Find great advice about food hygiene access: www.eatwell.gov.uk/keepingfoodsafe/

You can’t be there to hint about good nutrition, but ‘Desk-top Dan’ can! Get your teenager to download Desk-top Dan - he will provide daily tips, reminders and advice on healthy eating from their laptops - download from the nutrition menu at: www.cannedfood.co.uk

Healthy snacking can be difficult for students on the go and are often more expensive than chocolate, biscuits or cake. Encourage students to buy their own fruit and bring it to college each day with unique fruit carriers available from www.fruityfaces.com. These clip onto college and school bags and protect fruit from spoiling!

For health professionals and teachers there are many resources to be tapped into, especially on www.teenweightwise.com and www.bhf.org.uk. The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand has established “Quantity Catering Guidelines for Adolescents” that can be accessed by emailing (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and include a recipe modification tool as well as a menu checklist.

Linda Main, Dietitian