Do you want a healthier diet? More than half of all Americans - 55 percent — want a healthier diet, according to a recent survey. Most of us know we should eat more fruits and vegetables; but most of us aren’t. Yet if we did we would lose extra pounds quicker which is a goal for many.

What can you do? A fairly easy thing to do is keep fruits and vegetables in plain sight, kinda as a reminder to eat them. Store those that will keep at room temperature in a bowl on the kitchen counter. If your refrigerator crisper drawers are ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ put fruits and vegetables in plastic bags on eye level shelves. And if you’re just bored with the typical options, try something new to entice your taste buds into leading you to a better diet. The produce department has something for everyone. Have you tried a mango? What about a Tangelo? The produce department has lots of new fruits and vegetables in it.

If you have children in your family, it’s even more important to include a variety of fruits and veggies. If your kids think "vegetable" is a bad word, as one television commercial implies, try a few new strategies to make their plate healthier:

·Make a game out of eating vegetables and fruits by trying a new fruit or veggie once a week.

·Include children in grocery shopping and food preparation. What happens in the kitchen when children are involved in food selection and preparation is magical.

·Keep in mind that young children need to be exposed to a new food eight to twelve times before they’re likely to accept it.

·Just as important is being a good role model for children when you try new foods, too.

Turn over a new leaf in the new year. Enjoy these guilt free treats along with their health benefits which will ensure you’ll feel like you are getting off to a healthy start in 2010.

Source: By Shirley Perryman, MS, RD Food Science and Human Nutrition Specialist Colorado State University Extension.