Let’s face it, the food industry is smart, genius even, when it comes to targeting our kids with bright, bold, and colorful marketing, play lands, and toy prizes. It’s truly no wonder children go coo coo for Coco Puffs and head over heels for McDonalds instead of the healthy nutritional alternatives.

Competing with these sugary, fatty, and more boldly-junk foods can become a challenge, making you feel as if you are fighting an uphill battle, but it’s worth it. By teaching your child the importance of eating healthy young, they are far more likely to live a healthier lifestyle as they age. To help you make good nutrition fun and get your kids excited about eating healthy here are 10 tips.

1. Explain why. When encouraging kids to eat healthy it’s not enough to just tell them they have to. Instead explain why. Talk to them about how good nutrition helps their body grow and stay healthy. Try to relate the benefits to something they enjoy like lean proteins can improve how well they play their favorite sport.
2. Presentation. A well put together presentation can make all the difference when it comes to how your child perceives their healthy choices. Transform your child’s banana into a banana-phone by adding a little speech bubble filled with a silly note or skewer a variety of fruit into a kabob format, adding fun and making eating healthy enjoyable.
3. Fun Shapes. When it comes to your child’s snacks or meals play around with the shapes. Instead of leaving your child’s sandwich or watermelon it its standard shape, tailor it into hearts or stars. Cookie cutters are a great tool for this, take advantage and use them.
4. Add color. Creating a pleasing color pallet is a strategy marketers’ use religiously. Consider filling your child’s plate with bright, vibrant colors. The reds, purples, and greens of fruit and vegetables are perfect. You can also add color to nutritional foods by using food coloring.
5. Choice. Some children are all about independence and love doing things on their own. Creating a separate cabinet or pantry drawer filled with healthy snack options will allow your child to feel more independent as they make their own healthy choices.
6. Variety. For those stubborn, picky eaters it may be a good idea to give smaller portions of the healthy foods you want to encourage them to eat. Offering them less decreases the intimidation light eaters tend to feel. Some parents opt to use an ice tray instead of a plate, placing only a couple grapes or pretzels in each square. Just because your child doesn’t like something the first time, don’t give up. It can take up to nine times of trying something before they develop a taste for the item.
7. Build-it. Kids love to build and mix things themselves. Although you could pre-make a taco before serving it, instead place each ingredient separately on their plate allowing for more fun. When your child sits down to eat they can customize their own healthy meal. Other build-it lunch ideas are a yogurt parfait and cracker sandwiches.
8. Dips. While some children love fruit and vegetables naturally, others are not so impressed. Adding a healthy fruit or veggie dip to your child’s lunch can make all the difference.
9. Substitute. There are many healthy alternatives for giving your child the cookie they want while still giving their body the nutrition it needs. Many recipes are substituting ingredients like flour, and sugar for applesauce or yogurt and other much healthier alternatives. Consider offering your child a healthy spin on an old favorite treat.
10. Take it to the park. While fast food restaurants offer play lands to draw children in, you can just as easily pack a nutritional picnic and take it to the park, enjoying the fun of a play land without the unhealthy meal. Other ideas for fun and healthy eating on the go include the zoo, a nature center, or even your local mall.

While it may sometimes feel like a rigged competition, encouraging your child to eat healthy is an investment worth making. Despite the food industries marketing attempts there are still a variety of things you can begin doing today like talking to your kids about eating healthy, adding color and shapes to meals, and substituting recipe ingredients to help get your kids excited about eating healthy.