As parents, one of your biggest goals in trying to raise healthy children is getting to eat right. It seems that the marketing giants that sell fast food and candy and other unwholesome foods have the advantage because they can talk to your kids while they watch TV. So the classic "nag" by parents to "eat your fruit and vegetables" is one that is well known by every adolescent or teenager. It can make a parent crazy to try to teach the children good eating habits.

There are two secrets to getting your children "hooked" on eating good fruits and vegetables rather than candy, soda pop and cookies. One is start them early and the other is model the behavior. The old saying that the best lessons children learn are caught not taught applies well to teaching good healthy eating. If mom and dad eat healthy foods, the kids will imitate that. You will never hear them say, "Gee mom and dad, we want to eat just like you do." But they will pick up on your habits and begin enjoying the taste of good foods because that is what you eat and because that is what is available when they are hungry.

Part of modeling good eating is just not keeping unhealthy foods in the house. If you always have plenty of fruits around for snacks, then even if the kids have a cookie or piece of candy at a friends or while visiting grandma, they will see that as a treat and not a lifestyle choice. At home, they will return to healthy eating. They will discover what you know that fruits and fruit drinks are just as sweet and pleasing to drink and eat as any poor sugar based substitute. It is just a matter of getting the habit started.

We don't have to ponder too long on why keeping up a diet of fruit and vegetables is a must. Two of the food groups that we must eat to stay healthy are fruit and vegetables. While it is fine to supplement diet with a children's vitamin, anybody in the family can get all the nutrition, vitamins and minerals they need by filling out their diet with all of the food groups from families of foods that are natural and wholesome instead of cheap junk food substitutes.

When the kids get in the habit of eating vegetables with each meal, that healthy glow that they develop will be something you as a parent will love to see and they will enjoy from the inside out. It won't be long that even when on vacation where good fruits and vegetables may not be readily accessible, the kids will begin to crave healthy foods. When that happens, you know you will have done a great job of instilling good eating habits in your family for life.