Raising Healthy Eaters

3. Replace unhealthy snacks. Instead of chips, pop and candy, serve no-salt tortilla chips with salsa, fresh fruit and raw vegetables. Encourage your children to drink more water.

4. Children as young as two or three can help prepare meals and snacks. Give them more responsibility according to their ages.

5. When did fast foods and ice cream stops become a daily pastime? By returning fast foods and certain other foods to special status, your family will learn to appreciate them as an occasional treat, instead of expecting them on a regular basis.

6. Visit area health food stores or the health food section of your supermarket to find ready-to-serve foods for those times when you can't cook from scratch.

7. Keep in mind that fresh is best, frozen is good, and canned and processed foods should be your last choice.

8. Offer unusual foods. Buy fruits and vegetables you've never eaten. Cut them into small slices and set them out for snacks.

9. Follow tradition. Generations of parents have insisted that their children eat one forkful of every food at the table. If your child says no after tasting, don't insist he or she eat more. But don't let them overeat any one food. If they want more to eat, offer the foods they turned down once again.