There is an old axiom, "You are what you eat."  Taken literally, it means that if you eat healthy, you will be healthy.  Conversely, if you eat junk or have poor eating habits, your body will not be as healthy as it should be.

Poor eating habits are the leading cause of childhood obesity in the United States among children under 12. The best and easiest way to encourage healthy eating habits for your children is to lead by example and eat healthy yourself.

Shaping healthy eating habits for children can be as simple as keeping unhealthy junk foods off your grocery list. Since children develop their eating habits based on what we as adults put in the refrigerator and cabinets, it is well within our power to change any poor eating habits we've mistakenly taught our children.  After all, children can't drive to stores, nor do they have money to purchase their own food in quantity.  

Eating the right foods is a good step in the direction of developing healthy eating habits, but there are other things you can do.  Since kids often eat out of boredom, keeping them engaged in activity will help curb snacking.  When your kids do need a snack, serving them fruits and vegetables instead of chips and cookies will help keep their fat intake to a minimum.

Talk to your kids and let them help select healthy foods to incorporate into dinners and lunches.  Don't labor over trying to get your child to eat beets when he or she's perfectly happy with squash or a fresh salad. It may take a few weeks to establish a healthy eating pattern both for yourself and your children but doing so will improve health, well being and give you more energy.