It’s an age old struggle: getting kids to eat healthy. Anything green or unfamiliar usually gets met with a turned-up nose and is left on the plate. So how can parents encourage kids to develop healthy eating habits?

Here are five of our favorite tips:

1. Teach them about the power of produce.
“Because I said so” isn’t always a compelling reason for kids to eat healthy food like fruits and veggies. Take a minute to teach them about the important role these foods play in our bodies. Be sure to speak their language and explain it in a way that makes sense to them.

2. Try making eating healthy fun.
Make a game of trying new fruits and vegetables. Do a taste test. Put fruits, veggies and some (healthy) dips in a muffin pan. Hand out score cards, pencils or stickers and let kids rate each food. Talk about their favorite and least favorite foods. You may be surprised on how much they’re willing to try if they think they’re just playing a game!

3. Teach them healthy shopping habits.
Bring your kids along to the grocery store or farmers’ market. Talk to them about making healthy food choices, including how to read labels and how to pick out fresh produce. Empower them to choose a few new fruits and vegetables they want to try each week.

4. Pair new fruits and veggies with not-so-favorite foods.
An interesting new study found that when fruits and vegetables where paired with kids’ favorite foods (think chicken nuggets, pizza), kids didn’t eat as much of the healthy stuff. But when the main entrée was less than ideal, kids ate more fruits and veggies. Next time you want your family to try a new veggie or healthy side with dinner, try pairing it with something they like, but don’t love.

5. Sign up for Power of Produce.
The Power of Produce (POP) Club is a national program that empowers kids to make healthy choices. We are pleased to offer POP to area residents through our Get Healthy, Live Well initiative.

Kids age 4-12 are invited to participate in this free program at the Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market in Carrollton. Every first and third Saturday, from April 23 to Sept. 3, kids can stop by the POP Club tent to sign up for the club. They can also join in fun activities like making healthy recipes, creating crafts from fruits and vegetables and much more. POP members also receive $2 to spend at Cotton Mill on fruits and vegetables.