New research that shows you can get kids to eat healthy foods by calling it fun names and functions rather than by telling them it's healthy. For instance, call a green smoothie “Incredible Hulk juice”, or one of my favorites, broccoli as “trees.”

Set a goal to offer children foods from all five major food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, and meat and beans) at every meal. You may not always be able to get your kiddos to eat the recommended amount from each group every day, but if you can keep a healthy variety of foods available, kids will eventually get what they need over the course of a week or two.

After the age of 2, children's diets should be like adults' when it comes to fat — that is, no more than 35 percent of calories should come from fat — you should limit your child's intake of fats such as butter and margarine. In addition, because you want to leave room in tiny tummies for nutritious foods, watch the amount of sweets you offer. Healthy ways to give in and offer sweet food can be found in:

• Fresh or dried fruits such as apricots, apples, or pears.
• Unsweetened yogurt mixed with fruit or a spoonful of jam.
• Smoothies made with real fruit juice, milk or yogurt, and fruit.
• Cinnamon toast. Spread wheat bread lightly with butter or margarine, sprinkle with cinnamon and a dash of sugar, and toast it in a toaster oven.
• Graham crackers or rice cakes, spread with peanut butter or cream cheese.
• A bowl of hot cereal with brown sugar or maple syrup on top.
• Trail mix with healthy seeds and nuts (if not allergic) and a few carob chips or yogurt raisings mixed in.
• Berry parfait with layers of yogurt and granola.

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