Many parents are realizing that rushed schedules and too many
dinners from fast food restaurants are affecting the way their
children eat and see foods. The best way to get your kids to eat
well is to be a role model and to get them involved in meal
planning. Eating healthy is always a family affair. Whether your
children are very young and you are looking to start them out
"right" or they are already in the habit of eating too many high
fat, high sugar foods, you can use these tips to help your
family eat healthy meals. Children should be offered a variety
of foods from all food groups including whole grains, fresh
fruits and vegetables, low-fat or skim dairy products, lean
meats, fish, poultry, and beans. A good rule of thumb in
choosing the healthiest versions of these foods is "the less
processed, the better." Processed foods are usually prepackaged
foods like crackers, cookies, instant noodle and rice mixes,
sugary cereals, and breads made with white flour. The
ChooseMyPlate method divides the plate into