Empowering Teens to Develop Confidence Around Food & Body
Specialized nutrition guidance that honors the unique challenges of adolescence while building lifelong healthy habits.
THE SERVICE
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 and discuss their experience of their bodies without pressure or shame. They appreciate our awareness of where and how they spend their time online and what exposures are having an impact on the way they think about food and body. We use practical, relevant examples to educate our teens and we 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 Addresses the Following Critical Issues for Teens:
Fueling a changing body
- Your teen wants to understand how to fuel their changing body properly.
- They are involved in sports and want to optimize performance.
- They have specific health conditions requiring nutritional management.
Body image and emotional health
- Your teen struggles with body image or appearance concerns.
- They need support managing an eating disorder or disordered eating patterns.
- Social eating situations feel overwhelming to them.
- They are experiencing stress, anxiety, or emotional eating.
Independence and confidence with food
- Your teen feels confused by conflicting nutrition information on social media.
- They want to develop independence around food choices.
- They want to learn practical cooking and meal planning skills.
And for parents & families:
Supporting a growing, active teen
- You want age-appropriate nutrition education for your teenager.
- You need support navigating nutrition during growth spurts.
- You have a teen athlete with specific nutritional needs.
Protecting a healthy relationship with food
- You are concerned about your teen’s eating patterns or body image.
- You want to prevent disordered eating before it develops.
- Family meals have become a source of conflict or food-related stress.
Help your teen develop a sense of agency and confidence in their nourishment.
Rebecca Appleman, RD, our practice director, can speak with you about your teen’s food behaviors, patterns and overall self care, and how we can help.
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
Who you will work with
Care starts with a conversation with Rebecca Appleman, RD, our practice founder and executive director. She is the first point of contact for every person that reaches out to us; she completes every discovery call and supervises the clinical work of the team as a whole. Alongside her is a small team of registered dietitians with focused clinical interests, which often guide the clinical match for the client. The practice uses a tiered system of individual and group supervision to maintain clinical excellence.
Our clinicians are introduced on our team page, which details each dietitian’s clinical focus.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work directly with teens or primarily with parents?
We primarily work directly with adolescents, respecting their growing independence and autonomy. However, we always keep communication lines open with parents and involve parents as frequently as is warranted, as family support is important for lasting change. The level of family involvement depends on the teen’s age and specific needs.
Will you put my teen on a diet?
No. We never put teens (or anyone for that matter) 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.
How do you address body image concerns?
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.
My teen is an athlete. Do you provide sports nutrition guidance?
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.
How do you handle teens who are restricting food or showing signs of disordered eating?
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.
Do you teach practical cooking skills?
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.
What if my teen is resistant to nutrition counseling?
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.
READY TO TALK
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.
Insight from the practice
Occasional information and updates on nutrition and wellness from the Appleman Nutrition team.
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