There is a scary phenomenon facing our children today. Many children have poor diets.  Kids today are eating foods that are rich in starch, sugars, and carbohydrates and are not eating healthy. If this trend does not change, more and more children will face childhood obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other weight related health issues.

This does not have to be the prognosis for our children. There are ways to incorporate healthy eating into a child's diet. Healthy food choices include fresh fruits and vegetables, canned fruit (provided that it is packaged in water or light syrup).  Other healthy options include dried fruit, fruit popsicles, and homemade smoothies.  Fresh vegetables such as carrots and broccoli can be served with dips like hummus, bean dip, or light, and even fat free salad dressing.

Another healthy snack idea involves nuts and trail mix, low fat diary products, to promote healthy bones as well as healthy grains that are low in fat and sugar.

As we all know, kids do not always want to eat what is good for them. Make eating healthy fun. Get your child involved in the process.  For example, mini-pizzas are a fun healthy snack. To make this treat, you need whole wheat English muffins, pizza sauce and low fat cheese.  Parents should be in charge of the warming process, cook and serve.  Another snack idea involves ham or turkey, low fat cheese and Ritz crackers. Place the ham and cheese on top of the cracker, serve and enjoy.  Healthy eating is a lifestyle.  By watching what you buy at the store and serving low fat healthy foods, childhood obesity and other weight related diseases can be reduced.