The food groups in greatest need of attention are fruits and vegetables, dairy products and whole grains. The following tips can help get your child on the road to good health.

The "5-A-Day" recommendation includes at least one vitamin A-rich and vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable serving each day.  Vitamin A is found in apricots, papaya, mangos and cantaloupe, as well as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. 

High vitamin C foods include citrus fruit, cantaloupe, papaya, mangos, peaches, kiwi, strawberries, bell pepper, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and potatoes with skin. 

Use MyPyramid to help your preschooler eat well, be active, and be healthy. To get a customized MyPyramid Plan for your preschooler http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/index.html

• Tutor children on using the food groups as a daily guide and reinforce good eating habits by being a good role model.  Most children need about six servings of grain-based foods, five servings of fruits and vegetables, the equivalent of three to four glasses of milk, and six ounces of meat per day.
• Make breakfast a priority. Studies show that breakfast eaters have a better overall diet and have less trouble concentrating and fewer behavior problems in school. An ideal breakfast includes some protein, a little fat, plenty of carbohydrates and a good source of calcium. Whole grain cereal, fruit and milk. Even a peanut butter sandwich and box of calcium-fortified orange juice in the morning is good.
• Top breakfast cereal with fresh or dried fruit; and be sure to buy 100 percent whole grain breads.
• Think smart snacks. Keep ready-to-eat vegetables and low-fat dip, raisins or other dried or fresh fruit, ready-to-eat fortified cereal, popcorn, fig Newton or oatmeal cookies, whole grain crackers, and calcium-rich snacks like low-fat yogurt, mozzarella 'string' cheese and calcium-fortified juices in easy reach. 
• Increase the nutritional 'punch' of meals eaten at home. Use dark green and deep yellow/orange vegetables to make pumpkin-raisin bran muffins and other fruit breads; add finely minced, cooked vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, carrot, and broccoli to soups, casseroles and pasta sauces; and replace the water in some recipes with vegetable juice. 
• Add grated vegetables, such as carrots or squash, to home-baked muffins and sweet breads.
• Offer the new vegetable at the beginning of the meal or before the meal when the child is the hungriest.
• Serve vegetables in new combinations.  Children tend to like peas, potatoes, carrots, beans and corn.  Mix these vegetables with others they are less likely to eat, such as broccoli and cauliflower. 
• Prepare vegetables in new ways.  Stir-fry them or sprinkle with low-fat cheese. Add vegetables and beans to soup. Mix a vegetable in with a favorite food, such as peas in macaroni and cheese. Add vegetables to pizza toppings or to spaghetti sauce.
• For kids over the age of 4, offer raw vegetables as snacks.  Keep ready-to-eat vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, baby carrots and celery sticks and low-fat dips or salsa at child-level in the refrigerator.
• Use cut-up pieces of vegetables to make a "smiley face" on mashed potatoes.
• Offer an edible spoon, such as a stalk of celery, for scooping up chili or stew.
• Let children help decide which vegetables to buy in the grocery store and assist in preparing vegetable dishes.  Kids are more likely to eat foods they help pick out and prepare.
• Help your child grow a vegetable garden.
• Make meals as colorful as possible
• Be a good role model.  Eat your vegetables, and be willing to try new ones.
• If despite your efforts, your children still turn up their noses at anything yellow, green or leafy, don't give up. 
• Continue to offer vegetables at each meal and encourage children to try one bite. Remember, children's tastes change as they grow older.  It may take some time before they try a vegetable and it might take a lot of tries before they decide they like it.
• There are no 'bad' foods, just bad eating habits. Children should learn there are no "bad" foods, only bad eating habits. Avoid words like "you should,” you can't," and "don't".
• Instead of banning certain foods from children's diets, parents can teach them to make wise food choices by including kids in menu planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation.
• Discourage dieting. Be a good role model. Eat right and stay active, and your kids probably will too.
• Limit unnecessary sitting time. Set a kitchen timer for 30 minutes to limit non-school related sitting activities such as watching TV and playing computer and video games.
• Prepare low-fat and lower calorie meals the whole family will enjoy. Stock the fridge with individual bottles of water, juice, and healthy snacks like non-fat yogurt.
• Be positive. Involve your kids in decision-making. Keep family time active and enjoyable.

From the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center