I am not an expert.  I am a mother of three and many people have commented on my ability to feed my children what their children wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot-pole.  I figured if I could do it so could others… so if you’re interested here’re some tips on how, interspersed with photos and recipes.

My biggest piece of advice on how to get kids to eat healthful foods is to eat with them and serve them what you eat.  Don’t make the kids only what you think they’ll eat, but what you like as well.  Of course my children eat pasta, pizza, tacos and other kid-friendly foods.  They also love McD’s, but it’s a treat, not the everyday meal. Get them to try a food on the plate.  Put the food on everyone’s plate.  Sometimes what is chili to some is really considered an exotic food to someone else.  I must say that my kids have rarely had chicken nuggets at home, but I have made some great home-made breaded chicken breast they devoured!

Also, cut corners for convenience but don’t skip on nutrition. If you’re going to serve pizza make sure it’s all natural without too many extras (as in preservatives and modified food-stuffs) then serve them a mixed fresh vegetable salad with it, and if you’re giving dessert— maybe fruit. 

Some things that seem healthful are not… “fruit snacks” are really just glorified candies and yogurts  with colors, high fructose corn syrups and such are just not food. (Really— Trix! the junkiest of junk cereals in a yogurt?  Oreos and M&Ms to get your kids to eat yogurt??)

Read Michael Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food” or watch ”Supersize Me” and you’ll really want to change what you feed your kids.