Adolescence

Adolescence generally starts at the onset of puberty (which can be as young as age eight in girls and as young as 10/11 in boys), and continues through the teens and into the twenties.

There is usually a rapid height growth spurt for both girls and boys during puberty, which is often accompanied by an increase in appetite, requiring a healthy and balanced diet to support an increase in organ, muscle and bone growth. Although height growth may stop around 16-19 years of age, adolescence is a period of rapid bone growth as the skeleton continues to grow, increasing bone density, and continuing through to approximately age 30.²

Protein, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium are vital for bone growth in adolescence, so the diet should contain rich sources of these nutrients. The brain is also continuing to develop during the teenage years and into the twenties, requiring vital nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and iron.