Fats

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I know that when you hear the word 'fat, ' you probably automatically think of obese people or that fat is bad, but in reality it's not bad. I mean it isn't healthy for you to be overweight, but you need fat to survive. Teenagers need extra calories to fulfill their physical performance and their growth. If you don't get the right amount or enough calories, it will affect your physical performance and growth. So when you see fat, you try to avoid it. Don't. Fat is energy that lasts longer than other nutrients do. By that I mean that your body can store up fats longer than carbohydrates or protein.

There is such thing as good fats like unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats help blood cholesterol and other things and they are usually found in foods from plants, nuts, and seeds.  There are healthy fats too like nuts, fish, and avocados. Now, the fat that you should stay away from is trans fat.

Fats should make up about 25-35 percent of a teen athletes diet each day. 

Here is a video of Dr. John Whyte explaining the differences between good fats and bad fats: How Fats Work

(Click on "How Fats Work." Scroll down to the bottom for the video.)
"Healthy Eating For A Teenage Athlete." L I V E S T R O N G. N.p., n.d. Web. 29
     Nov. 2010. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/
     74741-eating-teenage-athlete/#ixzz17P606da4>.

"A Guide to Eating for Sports." Kids health. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.
     <http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/eatnrun.html>.