Vegetables and fruits are an important part of our children's diet. They supply many of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber the body needs to function and grow strong. Health and nutrition experts recommend that children eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day.

In a time when child obesity is at an all time high, kids eat fast food daily, and weight related childhood diseases are affecting young children, Southern Selects offers fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables that can be enticing to kids.

If fruits and vegetables aren't in the house, kids can't eat them. Make fresh produce easily available by keeping the kitchen stocked with Southern Selects produce and include them in your menu planning.

Here are some hints that will help your children enjoy
their fruits and vegetables:

• Try serving vegetables at the beginning of the meal when kids are the hungriest.
• Serve them often. Sometimes a child has to try the food several times before he or she likes it.
• Offer different colors to make the food more appealing.
• Serve raw vegetables with your child's favorite dip for dunking.
• Use a ridged pan or grill to make stripes on the vegetables.
• Make fun presentations. Try splitting our sugar snap peas in half and filling them with cream cheese.
• Try stir- frying vegetables.
• Serve baby vegetables for variety and excitement.
• Lead by example. Let your children see you enjoying fruits and vegetables at every meal.