Eating the right foods and getting enough of certain nutrients is more important at specific times of a woman’s life. We talked to Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D. and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Dr. Jennifer Caudle, Family Medicine physician and Associate Professor at the Department of Family Medicine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine to learn more. Here are the most important foods and nutrients to work into your diet from your teens through your 60s.
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Teens
As Dr. Caudle points out, it's very important that teens eat a well-balanced diet in general because they're still growing. Since major organs like their brains and hearts are still developing and maturing, eating the right types of food can make a major impact. During the teen years, Kirkpatrick recommends folate, calcium, iron, healthy fats and adequate calorie consumption. Dr. Caudle adds, "These young women may have just started their periods and depending on the flow it can cause a loss of iron. Eating iron-rich foods including lean beef, chicken, turkey, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, beans, and lentils maybe be beneficial."
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