It's recommended that kids should eat 1-2 cups of fruit daily (3/4 cup for toddlers). Of course, the raw fruit is best, but here are a few more ways to get servings of fruits in your child's diet.

• Freeze fruits and then use them as a snack. It's cool and refreshing on a hot sumer day, plus the fruits last much longer. Fruits that are great frozen include grapes, strawberries, peaches and melon balls.

• Buy fruit cups or canned fruits in light syrup like Dole Fruit Bowls in Gel, Del Monte Fruit Naturals and Del Monte Light Canned Fruits.

• Fruit and yogurt cups like Dole Fruit Parfait are a hit with kids. Delicious for parents and kids alike (read our review at Iateapie.net).
  
  
• Buy only 100% fruit juice. Stick to brands that don't use fruit juice concentrate, like Simply Orange Juice (also available as grapefruit and apple juice). This brand is 100% pure juice with no water or preservatives added.

• Unsweetened apple sauce like Mott's No Sugar Added Apple Sauce adds a serving of fruit, but without the extra sugar.

• Try fruit leathers instead of processed sugar fruit roll ups. Fruit leathers are made from fruit juice (concentrate), but it's even better if they contain fruit purees like Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Fruit Strips. Brands to avoid include Fruit Roll-Ups and Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews.

• Make home-made smoothies by blending ice and fruit with either fruit juice, the juice from canned fruit, yogurt or milk. Many store made smoothies have added sugars and are unnecessarily high in calories.

• Mix a few colorful fruits together to make a fruit salad. Try introducing new fruits mixed in with your kids favorites.

[Photo Credit: Dawn Alynn]

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