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" Problem #1: My kids drink a lot of juice. Is that bad for them? &amp;quot;Choose 100% fruit juices over the fruit-flavored kinds, which have fewer nutrients. But since even the former have lots of calories and sugar, children over seven should have only eight to 12 ounces a day. If your kids want more, dilute it with water.&amp;quot; \u2014Mary Gavin, M.D., pediatrician, author of Fit Kids Problem #2: My daughter refuses to eat vegetables. Any advice?  &amp;quot;Make them fun. For example, we have a treat called Going Fishing. I cut up carrots, then put peanut butter and Goldfish crackers in separate bowls. The kids dip the carrots in the peanut butter and then &amp;#039;fish&amp;#039; for the crackers.&amp;quot; \u2014Cherlyn Fuhrmann, Collinsville, Illinois, mom of five &amp;quot;Serve them with reduced-fat ranch dressing. Students put it on everything; I call them the Ranch Generation!&amp;quot; \u2014Karen Johnson, president, School Nutrition Association &amp;quot;Make sweeter vegetables, like pumpkin and winter squash, into dessert-like dishes.&amp;quot; \u2014Bridget Swinney, M.S., R.D., author of Healthy Food for Healthy Kids Problem #3: The kids just love fast food! What can I do? &amp;quot;I see what they like to eat out and try to re-create those foods at home. For instance, we make our own pizza. Our version has more veggies, but it&amp;#039;s pizza, so they will eat it.&amp;quot; \u2014Tara Nelson, Bountiful, Utah, mom of four &amp;quot;When you must get them fast food, supplement the meal with items that have more nutritional value. If they insist on having chicken nuggets, for example, see that they get a salad, some fruit, and a glass of milk or bottled water along with it.&amp;quot; \u2014Dorothy Brayley, executive director of Kids First, a nutritional program Problem #4: My child&amp;#039;s lunch period is at 10:30! What should she eat?  &amp;quot;She needs a lunch with staying power to sustain her through the day. Pack her something with protein, fat, and carbs like a peanut-butter-and-jelly or cheese sandwich, and give her 2% milk.&amp;quot; \u2014Ellyn Satter, M.S., R.D., author of How to Get Your Kid to Eat...But Not Too Much &amp;quot;Want to get the lunch period pushed back a few hours or add a snack time? All school districts with national school-lunch programs are required to come up with local wellness policies. Get involved in these committees; it&amp;#039;s your chance to have a say.&amp;quot; \u2014Karen Johnson Problem #5: Our boys eat a lot. How do I get them to cut back? &amp;quot;First, have your kids eat only at the table and away from the TV or computer. Second, be sure they have plenty of water with meals. And third, don&amp;#039;t allow second servings until at least 20 minutes have passed.&amp;quot; \u2014Henry Legere, M.D., pediatrician, author of Raising Healthy Eaters: 100 Tips for Parents &amp;quot;Serve salad and veggies at the start of the meal. Better for them to get full on healthy foods, versus high-fat ones.&amp;quot; \u2014Alice Jo Rainville, Ph.D., R.D., associate professor of nutrition for Eastern Michigan University Problem #6: I give my child healthy brown-bag lunches \u2014 but how do I know if he&amp;#039;s eating them? &amp;quot;One way to find out whether he&amp;#039;ll eat something healthy is by giving it to him at breakfast or dinner. If he likes it, put it in his lunch bag.&amp;quot; \u2014Michael Gomez, chef in Crescent City, California, who created TEEN CHEF, a school program that teaches kids about nutrition &amp;quot;Look for wrappers from foods you didn&amp;#039;t pack \u2014 a telltale sign that your child&amp;#039;s been trading!&amp;quot; \u2014Alice Jo Rainville Problem #7: My nine-year-old decided he wants to be a vegetarian. Is this OK for a kid his age?  &amp;quot;This kind of diet can be healthy for your child \u2014 as long as he gets certain nutrients that meats would normally supply. Three cups of milk a day will provide much of the necessary protein along with vitamin B12 (found naturally only in animal products). He can get iron, zinc, and other B vitamins through a varied diet that includes dried beans and peas, nuts, and fortified whole grains. Of course, you should also make sure he gets six to nine servings of fruits and veggies a day, as well as a multivitamin mineral supplement.&amp;quot; \u2014Bridget Swinney Photo: Photolibrary/Getty Images NEXT: 6 Tricks to Get Your Kids Out the Door Faster \u00BB "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/tips/a22217/healthier-school-lunch-tips/>