By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist

RISMEDIA, March 15, 2010—High profile personalities from First Lady Michelle Obama to a host of celebrity food chefs seem to be focused these days on getting kids to eat healthier. But as any parent knows, persuading a kid to choose the right foods can be a truly daunting task.

But it needn’t be a task, says BellaOnline food editor Kathy Brown. The first step, according to Brown, is to provide better choices. “You can be their inspiration by offering more fruit, veggies and low fat proteins for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Brown said. “But the real test comes when they get home from school–especially when you’re not there to influence their choice of snacks.”

The trick, says Brown, as any chef knows, is to appeal to their eyes as well as their appetites. That means making sure a healthy selection of attractive foods is waiting for them in the refrigerator

Begin by clearing the fridge and the pantry shelves of high fat chips and sugary treats. Then fill the fridge with finger foods that offer taste as well as eye appeal:

Use color. Nature gives us a colorful array of fruits and veggies. Try leaving a tray of baby carrots, broccoli florets and zucchini strips ready to eat in the fridge. On another tray, combine an assortment of cut-up melon, berries or other fruit speared with toothpicks so they are ready to eat.

Let ‘em dip. Include a pre-poured cup of fat-free ranch dressing, yogurt and/or store bought, low-fat caramel sauce to make dipping fruits and veggies fun.

Freeze fruit pops. Peel and cut bananas crosswise. Spread each half with peanut butter and decorate with a few chocolate chips. Pop them in the freezer in place of ice cream bars and watch them disappear.

Try eggs. Kids love deviled eggs. Cut hardboiled eggs in half the long way. Mash the yolks with a little low fat mayo, salt and pepper and a dab of mustard if they like it.

Wrap it up. Roll up turkey slices, lettuce and tomato in whole wheat tortillas and leave them in the fridge in plain sight.

Say cheese. Low fat string cheese is appealing to kids. Pair it with low fat, whole grain crackers and it’s sure to please the pickiest eaters.

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