It often takes some urging to get kids to eat enough vegetables and fruits - but they need their "5 to 10 a day" as well! What to do if your kids "turnip" their noses at vegetables and fruit? Try some of these "kid-approved" tips:

·        Mashed potatoes are often a favorite; sneak in another vegetable by mixing in cooked carrots or squash into the mashed potato and call them "orange potatoes" - kids may be enticed by the bright colour and sweet taste!

·        Try some different shapes and sizes. Using a small cookie cutter to make shapes out of raw vegetable and fruit pieces can make eating them more fun.

·        Add a dip. Serving raw vegetable and fruit pieces with a low-fat dip allows kids to eat with their hands, and may encourage them to eat a bit more.

·        Don't overcook. Kids often prefer a crunchy texture in foods - cook vegetables until just tender-crisp.

·        Try and try again. Don't force, but do offer kids vegetables again and again. Sometimes it takes 8 or 9 offers before they will try a new food and begin to like it.

·        Be a good role model. Kids will eat vegetables and fruits if they see the rest of the family eating them.