We all want our children to grow up strong and healthy. The first step down that road is a good diet.
Just what does it take to get kids to eat the right foods and live a healthy life style?
"One of the best ways to motivate children and others is to be a good example yourself. And when you're taking time to exercise and choose the right foods, your outlook on life will be more positive, you'll have more energy and your children will want to be more like you." said Castle dietician Ruby Hayasaka.
Ruby says one thing parents can do is to make shopping, cooking and eating fun.
"And when you take the time - and my heart really goes out to parents because I know how much time it takes, energy and patience to involve your children in planning the meals, going shopping for the meals, preparing meals and let your children teach you about good nutrition as you coach them because children are very savvy now."
And we may be trying to re-invent the wheel here when it comes to healthy kids.
"Healthy food choices are the same for children as they are for adults. It starts with - eating food in its most natural state. The pyramid talks about five food groups - whole grains and look for 100 percent whole grain choices when you're looking at breads and cereals." said Hayasaka.
Here at the Castle Bistro, there are lots of examples of fresh produce - fruits and vegetables right from the farm. And Ruby encourages staff and patients to take advantage of that.
"But there's nothing wrong with canned, frozen, dried fruits. I know some of the nice snack things for children are dried. But just make sure that when you read the labels really carefully and that they do not have a lot of added fat, salt or sugar." said Hayasaka.
The new nutrition rule is the "plate" rule. Make sure half your plate is covered with fruits and vegetables.
