Brown-colored bubbled beverages are so yesterday. Today it's all about the Froose, an alternative to those high-sugar juice boxes for kids. Froose is a unique and one-of-a-kind whole food beverage which combines organic whole grains and fruit to create a juice that is naturally low in sugar and contains 3 grams of fiber (made from brown rice) and inulin. Inulin is plant-based polysaccharides (several simple sugars linked together). Inulin also increases calcium absorption and promotes good intestinal bacteria. Froose comes in three flavors: Playful Peach, Perfect Pear, and Cheerful Cherry. Kids will think they're drinking the same old sugary juice - but yet it's completely organic, nutritious, low in sugar, and provides the fiber, vitamins and complex carbohydrates for bone and muscle growth. Retails for 75c for 4.23fl oz. froose.com

Kids love chicken nuggets, and just imagine how much money you can save and give your kids a better tasting and healthier alternative to what they can find at the local fast foodery. A bag of Banquet Chicken Breast Nuggets is around the same price as many fast-food chicken nuggets but you get more than four times the amount of food. In the Banquet Chicken Nuggets bag you get more than 40 white-meat nuggets (under $4), and are made with real white meat chicken and come in a resealable bag, so you can use what you need and put the rest back in the freezer for another time. banquet.com

Want to offer your kids more exotic flavors? PLUM ORGANICS Kids Meals are designed to fuel the specific health needs of kids, and also includes 32mg of DHA - an Omega-3 important for brain and eye development. Bowtie Pasta with Sweet Potato Sauce (side of edamame, corn and red bell peppers) Rainbow Veggie Shells with Parmesan Sauce (side of peas and carrots), Cheese filled Spinach Tortellini with Marinara (side of peas and carrots), Italian Sausage Marinara over Multigrain Pasta (side of peas, sweet corn, green beans and carrots) cooks in just 3 minutes. Retails for $4.49 plumorganics.com

Some schools teach nutrition education. However, it is the parents’ role to lead their children in the right direction with healthy eating decisions.

Here are some of my suggestions:

• Make meals fun and exciting. Kids will want to stay at the dinner table longer and enjoy their mealtime.
• Bring your child grocery shopping with you. Pick and choose foods to go in the lunch box together.
• Prepare for your weekly meals in advance. Don’t buy food at the last minute. You may end up just buying whatever is available, instead of stopping to think of what foods are healthy.
• Be patient with your child’s eating habits. Kids are picky. They may not want to try five new foods at once. However, they may be more willing to try one new food per week.
• Make sure your child is taking a multiple vitamin. If you are not sure if he or she is getting all of the nutrients needed, a multiple vitamin is very beneficial for children. No other vitamin or mineral supplements are necessary, unless your doctor or registered dietitian has recommended additional supplementation.
• Network with the moms in the neighborhood on their meal selections. Find out what they are feeding their children. You may grab some great ideas for your kid’s lunchbox!
• Keep track of new products available at your local supermarket. Numerous manufacturers have already begun to develop and deliver healthy products that are now available in your local grocery store. Keep your eyes open. There may be a product that both you and your children will enjoy!

One of the most effective ways of encouraging nutritious eating in children is for the whole family to make adjustments in their eating habits and the kinds of foods that fill the refrigerator and cabinets, “Back-to-school” is a great opportunity for the entire family’s healthy food makeover.