Rome was not built in a day.  Kids are not going to wake up and start asking for asparagus for breakfast.  It is the overwhelming task of a parent to make sure that they are feeding their children what is considered a balanced diet and raising them to be healthy eaters.  And it starts early!  A recent study on childhood obesity (http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8894) shows that kids as young as 2 years old hold food preferences based on their parents dietary choices.  Parents and caregivers are the role models for kids.  They idolize us. They want to mimic most everything we do.  And watching what we eat is what they do most everyday.

So take some simple steps to make them healthier eaters!

Healthy options at meals and snacks

Have your kids cook with you

Talk about healthy foods and why we eat them

Lead by example

So are you, Mom and Dad, ready to change what you eat?  No one said it was going to be easy!  But do it for your kids!  Get your whole family on board.  Start with simple steps, one day at a time.  Life is a marathon, not a race.

More tips can be found at We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition), a national movement designed to give parents, caregivers, and entire communities a way to help children 8 to 13 years old stay at a healthy weight.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/index.htm