Food is nourishment; it provides the body with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins needed for everyday function. However students’ choices on eating can be characterized with poor eating habits and the lack of nutrition. It’s no surprise students may choose unhealthy food, as demanding schedules for some make it difficult to prioritize healthy eating, especially when  processed foods are often more accessible. During adolescent years, growth propels by the consumption of proteins. Nutritious food, although difficult to keep a priority, is important for high school students in order for growth to continue. Started as a trend on socialmedia, the “What I Eat in a Day” content is used to gather information on students’ implementation of nutrition or lack thereof. 

Breakfast: 

Some students report that waking up early and getting ready is time consuming and eating breakfast is a last priority. 

“I wake up at 7:20 [a.m.] to get ready for school, and by the time I’m done I have to leave,” Lucy Afsari (‘27) said. 

Other students disagree and beakfast remains an important part of their morning routines. Studies find that eating breakfast provides more concentration and memory when fulfilled with whole grains, protein and fiber (Brown Health)

“My mom usually makes me a bagel with an egg to bring to school when running late,” Callie Barker (‘27) said.

Lunch: 

Many students choose fast food at lunch, when half of the school– juniors and seniors– can leave campus. Regular consumption of fast food leads to negative long-term effects. Fast food chains’ high-fat and calorie dense components allow students to consume more calories in a meal than they would in a home cooked one (Harvard Health Publishing). Regularly eating high-calorie, dense food can contribute to “diet-related chronic health conditions” long term (Medical News Today). 

“[My friends and I either go to Jamba [Juice], Starbucks, or Chipotle during lunch. It’s hard to find options, that’s why I go to chain industries,” Afsari said.

Packing nutrient-focused lunches can benefit students by avoiding negative long-term health effects from high-fat and calorie dense components.

“I usually don’t buy food at lunch and just pack a sandwich instead,” Gabi Massey (‘27) said.

“I have some kind of protein with a sandwich and fruit, once a week I’ll leave campus and get McDonald’s,” Barker said.

Dinner:

Dinner, often people’s final meal before the day closes, is a gathering of necessary nutrients, providing essential energy for physical growth. 

“For dinner, my family usually makes salmon bowls with cucumber salad,” Barker said.

Home-cooked meals allow more control over ingredients, compared to fast food restaurants or processed meals.

“My mom usually makes protein based meals for dinner,” Massey said. 

Despite the meal’s importance, not all students regularly eat home cooked meals, from lack of convenience or other life factors. 

“I work at a restaurant, so I usually get dinner there, but when I am home my mom will cook healthier foods like tofu,” Afsari said.

Influences: 

A variety of factors influence whether students prioritize nutritional value in their daily meals. Social media can influence teens in a positive or negative way, depending on the algorithms they’re consuming daily. 

“Social media advertisements and influencers show healthier alternatives which is good, but usually self-compassion influences me to, ultimately, be healthier,” Afsari said. 

Some students are influenced to be nutrition-focused by meal ideas on social media. 

“I guess I’m also a little influenced by social media to find healthier recipes,” Barker said. 

Students report social factors influence their prioritization of nutrition. Eating habits usually form by people mimicking the eating of others around them (Bridgeport). For students specifically, eating habits form from peers or parents.

“My mom is really big on nutrition and since I’m an athlete, she really helps with my meal plans,” Barker said. 

“Since my mom is actually a dietitian, nutrition is a very important factor of my life,” Massey said.

Conclusion: 

It’s proven that nutrition is important, especially for teens’ health psychologically. However, teens aren’t perfect in meeting precise nutrition goals, so balance is crucial. While nutrition matters, too much limitation can cause unhealthy relationships with food.

“I try to be aware of the nutritious values in the food [I eat], like calories, but I give myself grace,” Afsari said.