Parents are often troubled by their teen-age children’s diets. Some parents worry that their adolescent daughters don’t eat enough because they’re too concerned about gaining weight. Others worry that their teens eat too much “junk food” or fast foods. Are these concerns warranted?

Adolescence is a complex developmental period in which major biological, sociological, psychological and cognitive changes occur. Almost overnight, children’s bodies turn into shapely young females or muscular athletic males. Parents experience — often with frustration — their children’s valiant search for independence and self-identity and their need for peer approval.

Teen-agers spend a lot of time with friends, and eating becomes an important part of socializing. The youngsters are trying to be adult-like and they have seen “eating out” as a way of celebration by their parents. The social nature of food is also influenced by the media which displays very thin people eating high fat, high sodium foods and never gaining weight nor having any health problems.

What are the recommendations for teen-agers who are being pulled by hormones, peers and societal demands? Sufficient whole foods and Vitamin L.

Most teen-agers have learned in health classes or from their families what they should be eating. But their reasons for not eating properly according to Mary Story’s 1989 survey of adolescents’ views on food and nutrition, include:

Lack of time. After-school jobs, rehearsals, sports and lessons cause meal skipping.

Inconvenience of eating well. Preparing and eating nutritious meals is too much trouble and hinders more important activities.

Lack of self discipline. High sugar, high fat, salty food is appealing.

Lack of a sense of urgency. Immediate gratification is more important than long-term good health — the future seems far distant to teen-agers.

The vitamin L that is essential for the adolescent diet is love, and that means having adequate whole foods that are appealing at the right place anytime of the day or night, where the teen-ager can independently partake without an authority figure nagging.

Have healthful, whole foods at strategic places.

Unattended refrigerators entice young people and may offer abundant cartons of milk, vegetables ready for eating while on the go (like carrot sticks), and low-fat sandwich fillings (sliced turkey, chicken or tofu).

Place fruit bowls or baskets by the telephone (where teen-agers spend hours).

Stock cupboards with high-fiber crackers such as Ryvita or the Norwegian crispbreads or pretzels, which are more conducive to weight control than high-fat crackers, cookies or potato chips.

Freezers with ice milk rather than premium ice creams will help the girl who is watching her weight.