Set aside time each week for planning and sharing meals. Have your teen help with food shopping. This provides a chance to make healthy choices. Your teen can also help prepare food, such as salad. Then the whole family should eat the meal you made together. (If the kids drink milk, but Mom and Dad get soda, this sends a mixed message!)

In these days of Big Gulps and jumbo-sized fries, it's easy to get carried away. Serve portions that make sense for your kids. If they're full, don't make them clean their plates. And if they're still hungry, offer seconds of vegetables or fruit.

Sodas and juice drinks are the real monsters when it comes to weight gain. A small soda is OK once in a while. But it's no substitute for healthier drinks. Sports drinks and juice drinks should be limited, too. These can contain almost as much sugar as soda! Half a cup of 100% fruit juice each day is fine—but that's all kids need. The rest of the time, water and low-fat or nonfat milk are best.

• Fruits and vegetables

• Whole-grain breads and cereals

• Low-fat or nonfat milk, yogurt, and other dairy

• Lean protein, like fish, skinless chicken breast, tofu, and beans

• Water!

• Sweets, such as candy bars, cookies, and ice cream

• Salty snacks, like chips

• Fried food, like french fries and potato nuggets

• Soda, sports drinks, and sugary juice drinks

When you're busy, it can be hard to eat healthy. These tips help you save time AND calories:

• Keep healthy, ready-to-eat snacks around the house, such as carrot sticks, apple slices, trail mix, and low-fat yogurt cups.

• Combine store-prepared foods (like broiled chicken) with fresh vegetables.

• Cook large meals on the weekend and freeze the rest for leftovers.

• If you can't avoid fast food, choose healthier options, like a salad instead of fries. And don't be tempted by giant-sized "value" meals.

Taste buds need time to get used to new flavors. Start slowly. Let your kids pick out vegetables and fruits they want to try. If a food's not a hit at first, serve it again in a few weeks. Over time, an unfamiliar taste may become a new favorite. And remember, healthy eating isn't all or nothing. Even small changes are better than none.