Empowering Teens to Develop Confidence Around Food & Body

Specialized nutrition guidance that honors the unique challenges of adolescence while building lifelong healthy habits.

What Is Adolescent
Nutrition Therapy?

Adolescent nutrition therapy is specialized counseling designed specifically for teenagers navigating the complex intersection of rapid physical growth, emotional development, social pressures, and changing nutritional needs.

We understand adolescence is a critical time for establishing food relationships that will last a lifetime.

During these formative years, teens face unique challenges: body changes, increased independence, social media influence, academic stress, sports demands, and the development of their own identity—including their relationship with food and body image. Our approach recognizes these complexities and provides age-appropriate, respectful guidance that empowers teens to make confident choices.

We work directly with adolescents (with appropriate family involvement) to help them understand their changing nutritional needs, develop practical life skills around food, and build a positive, sustainable relationship with eating that supports their physical and emotional well-being.

Our adolescent nutrition therapy goes beyond basic nutrition education to address the real-world challenges teens face: eating in social situations, managing busy schedules, dealing with body image concerns, fueling athletic performance, and developing autonomy around food choices.

OUR APPROACH TO ADOLESCENT NUTRITION THERAPY

Teen-Centered, Developmentally Appropriate Care

We recognize teenagers are not just smaller adults—they have unique developmental, social, and emotional needs that require a specialized approach.

Our adolescent nutrition therapy respects teens' growing independence while providing the guidance and support they need during this crucial period.

What Sets Our Approach Apart:

  • We speak directly to teens in language that resonates with their experiences

  • We honor their growing autonomy while providing appropriate guidance

  • We address real-world challenges like social eating, busy schedules, and peer pressure

  • We focus on body positivity and intuitive eating principles

  • We consider the whole teen—their lifestyle, interests, and individual goals

  • We involve families appropriately while respecting teen privacy and independence

  • We address both current needs and long-term relationships with food

HOW WE CONNECT WITH TEENS

Our sessions are collaborative and non-judgmental, creating a safe space where teens can explore their relationship with food without pressure or shame. We use practical, relevant examples and focus on skills they can use immediately in their daily lives.

We may work on meal prep for busy schedules one week, discuss fueling for sports the next, and explore social eating situations after that. Everything is guided by what's most relevant and helpful for each individual teen.

WHO IS IT FOR

Adolescent Nutrition Therapy Is Perfect For Teens Who:

  • Want to understand how to fuel their changing body properly

  • Are involved in sports and want to optimize performance

  • Feel confused by conflicting nutrition information on social media

  • Struggle with body image or appearance concerns

  • Want to develop independence around food choices

  • Need support managing eating disorders or disordered eating patterns

  • Have specific health conditions requiring nutritional management

  • Feel overwhelmed by social eating situations

  • Want to learn practical cooking and meal planning skills

  • Are experiencing stress, anxiety, or emotional eating

Ideal for families with teens who:

  • Want age-appropriate nutrition education for their teenager

  • Are concerned about their teen's eating patterns or body image

  • Need support navigating nutrition during growth spurts

  • Want to prevent disordered eating before it develops

  • Have a teen athlete with specific nutritional needs

  • Are dealing with family meal conflicts or food-related stress

How Teens Benefit

✔ Practical Skills

Learn real-world skills like meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking

✔ Increased Confidence

Develop a strong, positive relationship with food and body

✔ Body Positivity

Develop respect and appreciation for what the body can do

✔ Better Performance

Understand how to fuel the body for academic and athletic success

✔ Independence

Gain the knowledge and skills to make autonomous, healthy food choices

✔ Social Ease

Feel confident eating in various social situations

✔ Stress Management

Learn healthy ways to cope with stress that don't involve food restriction or emotional eating

✔ Long-term Health

Build sustainable habits that support lifelong well-being

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We primarily work directly with adolescents, respecting their growing independence and autonomy. However, we also involve parents appropriately, as family support is important for lasting change. The level of family involvement depends on the teen's age, specific needs, and comfort level.

  • No. We never put teens on restrictive diets. Instead, we focus on helping them develop a healthy, balanced relationship with food that includes all foods in moderation. Our approach is about adding nourishment and developing positive habits, not restriction.

  • Body image is a critical component of our work with adolescents. We help teens develop body neutrality and appreciation, focusing on what their bodies can do rather than just how they look. We also address media literacy and help teens critically evaluate the messages they receive about bodies and food.

  • Yes, we have extensive experience working with teen athletes. We help them understand how to fuel their performance, recover properly, and maintain a healthy relationship with food even under competitive pressures.

  • We take any signs of disordered eating very seriously and work closely with families and other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive care. Our approach initially focuses on ensuring adequate dietary intake, stabilizing nourishment, and restoring weight when indicated. We also work to address the underlying emotional factors that trigger unhealthy eating patterns and help our clients build a deep respect for their body and a sense of freedom with food.

  • We believe practical skills are essential for developing food independence. Depending on the teen's interests and needs, we may provide meal planning guidance, grocery shopping skills, and connect you with hands-on cooking instruction when appropriate.

  • We practice real-world scenarios and develop strategies for eating in various social contexts, ranging from school lunches to restaurant outings with friends. We focus on helping teens feel confident and comfortable in any eating situation.

  • It's normal for teens to feel hesitant about any form of counseling. We work hard to create a non-judgmental, teen-friendly environment where they feel heard and respected. Many teens find our approach different from what they expected and quickly become engaged in the process.

Empower Your Teen's Relationship with Food!

The teenage years are the perfect time to build confidence, skills, and a positive relationship with food that will last a lifetime.