Super Foods for Kids

The same way that kids don't go gaga over baked potatoes like they do mashed or fried, they won't respond to a sweet potato in all of its baked glory. Cutting up the potato into small strips and baking it in the oven will yield sweet potato fries to fill hungry tummies. Just brush the fries with some olive oil prior to baking and when finished decide if you would like them to be savory (add salt and pepper) or sweet (dust some cinnamon or nutmeg on top).

Fish

Fatty fish, like salmon or tuna, contain high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids which aid in heart health and also improve mood. Since a filet of salmon won't make the grade for kids, whip up some tuna sandwiches instead. Serve on whole-grain bread with as little mayo as possible.

Dark Chocolate

Switch your kids' desserts from processed milk chocolate to the dark, organic variety and fill them up with added magnesium and antioxidants. To counteract the natural bittersweet flavor, try warming it up in the microwave and dipping fruit in it. By applying just a thin skein of dark chocolate, it will taste mostly of the strawberry or dried fruit that you used to dip it but with just a hint of chocolate. Since dark chocolate is high in caffeine, a little goes a long way with your young ones.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Since kids have signed a contract to fight eating anything green, try one of the new green food powders available at your local health food store blended into a fruit smoothie. The powder can be either straight chlorophyll or one of the popular green food mixes available. If you own a juicer, you can infuse the drink with even more nutrients like beta-carotene, lutein and vitamin B by juicing raw veggies and adding them to the smoothie.

The fruit flavors will mask any vegetable flavors. In fact, it takes quite a bit of leafy vegetables to make a significant amount of juice so you could ostensibly get multiple servings of veggies into one drink. Try adding: