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The nutritional needs of adolescents are very important as this is a time of change, both in growth, cognitive and emotional abilities.
Therefore, it is a phase in which adequate nutrition plays a key role in promoting a number of benefits that will be felt throughout life.
However, according to The Lancet, this age group has not received the attention it deserves in recent years.
The publication emphasizes the theme and promotes discussions for plans, incentives, investments, and policies, global and local, aimed at this public who suffer nutritional problems such as:
- micronutrient deficiencies;
- food insecurity;
- overweight;
- and obesity.
Thus, nutrition plays a fundamental role in development, with consequences for adulthood, such as the accumulation of muscle mass and fat, and chronic noncommunicable diseases.
Thus, the nutritional effects on adolescent development go beyond musculoskeletal growth, cardiorespiratory fitness, neurodevelopment and immunity.
Therefore, in late childhood and early adolescence, the transition to puberty provides a nutrition-sensitive window to promote healthy growth and reduce the risk of obesity in adulthood.
The Key Nutrients For Teens
Above all, dietary intake during adolescence lays the foundation for a healthy life.
Thus, there are several factors that influence food and nutritional choice in adolescence, especially due to the different dietary patterns they present.
However, when it comes to nutrition, adolescents are more likely to make poor food choices, according to a recent study published by author Neufeld in 2022.
Research shows that decision-making skills in relation to the nutrition of adolescents are more intense, making them more susceptible to inadequate eating habits.
And this susceptibility can lead to changes in brain structure and boost the consumption of hyper palatable and calorie-rich foods.
As a result, the ingestion of the appropriate amount of some nutrients becomes essential.
Recommended Nutrients in Adolescence
PROTEINS: for the formation of muscles and tissues.
FIBERS: important for intestinal functioning and maintenance of the intestinal microbiota.
THIAMINE, RIBOFLAVIN and NIACIN: Due to the high energy demand of adolescence, these vitamins are recommended in larger amounts.
FOLIC ACID: due to its role in DNA synthesis, it is important during increased cell replication in this growth period.
VITAMIN D: is involved in the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in bone mineralization, being essentially necessary for rapid skeletal growth.
VITAMIN A: fundamental for sexual maturation.
IRON: in boys, due to the construction of muscle mass, which is accompanied by greater blood volume and respiratory enzymes. In girls, for the compensation of iron lost monthly with the beginning of menstruation.
ZINC: essential element for the growth and maturation of the adolescent.
CALCIUM: greater need for adolescents, as they present the well-known phase of “growth spurt”.
Adolescents incorporate twice the amount of calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium into their bodies during the spurt years of growth relative to other stages of life.
Opportunity for the food industry in adolescent nutrition
The special needs generated by low concern for adolescent nutrition open up a number of opportunities for the food and beverage industries.
An extensive qualitative and quantitative research conducted by Mintel identified a gap in options with low or no sugar for adolescents, especially in the beverage category.
Therefore, few products are thought of in the needs of both parents and adolescents.
In the global market there is the launch of products aimed at this audience. Like drinks, another category that is also standing out is “healthy” snacks.
In this regard, 85% of parents said they had bought healthier snack options to have at home, compared to only 66% of childless households.
Therefore, the result indicates that there are already brands attentive to this young audience.
Another technology that has been used is the production of yogurt with a higher concentration of nutrient. As in the case of UltraHi™ Protein Yogurt, which allows the creation of yogurt products with 8-25% protein.
In the territory of immunity, launches with ingredients such as vitamin C, zinc and curcumin, added in refreshing drinks, begin to gain space.
Convergent with the growth of plant-based food, hamburgers and vegetable drinks, such as oat-based, for the teen audience. Check out some releases:
Adolescence is a phase of life that requires specific nutritional care and a closer look at the food and beverage industries at this age group can open up a range of opportunities with healthy, nutritious and, at the same time, indulgent products, indispensable attributes for these consumers of the future.