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While protein-rich foods don't cause digestive problems by themselves, eating a lot of them may leave less room for high-carbohydrate foods in your diet, which tend to have a lot of dietary fiber.

More severely, taking in too much protein could raise your risk of serious diseases including cancer, heart disease, and liver or kidney problems. Partially, that is because so many protein-rich foods are also high in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, all of which can enhance risk factors for those diseases. If you choose plant-based proteins instead of animal proteins and full-fat proteins, your personal risk may not be quite as high.

Protein contains calories -- sometimes more calories than carbohydrate- or fat-rich foods. Although it can help you gain lean muscle mass, eating protein in excess of your body's needs will result in fat gain.

The question of how much protein to eat can be a tricky one because the right amount for one individual may be far too much for another. MayoClinic.com recommends getting between 10 percent and 35 percent of your daily calories from protein, or about 50 to 175 g per day.

You can also calculate recommendations based on your body weight. Dr. Melina Jampolis, physician nutrition specialist for CNN.com, suggests getting about 0.8 g of protein per day per kg of your body weight.

Unless you're following a diet that is very unbalanced, you're likely not at risk for eating too much protein. It's also important to realize that some protein is essential for health, since protein-rich foods build and repair muscle and bone tissue, satiate hunger and provide energy. If you have concerns about the protein amounts in your diet, talk them over with your doctor or a registered dietitian.

Instead, teach teens which foods should be eaten in moderation and which make up a regular part of a healthy diet.

When there's no junk available, both kids and grownups make healthier choices.

Tips for Healthy Eating for Teens

Always eat breakfast.

include some complex carbohydrates and a piece of fruit or fruit juice.

load it up with fruit, veggies, complex carbs and lean protein.

Make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks in the house for after-school munchies.

research has shown that teens who eat with their families tend to have healthier diets when they're older.

girls who have regular family meals have less incidence of eating disorders.

make supper healthy dinners as well.

Eat moderate portions yourself, as well, to set the example.

Teens tend to gulp down their meals quickly. This may cause them to overeat, because feeling full takes a few minutes.

Chewing slowly helps improve satiation, causes you to eat fewer calories, and improves nutrient absorption.

Offer a varied diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

same foods repeatedly can lead to nutritional deficiency.

Minimize processed foods that come in cans, boxes, bags, jars, and packages. These foods tend to be high in preservatives, sugar, and artificial ingredients.