(HealthScoutNews) -- Give your children a special gift this Christmas -- a healthy diet.

While that can be a challenge for parents during the holidays, here are some suggestions for creative, nutritious meals that will please children.

The tips come from Alice Baker, a registered dietitian at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center:

• Make a menu of a few special, well-prepared food items, rather than a large selection.

• Make meals special by preparing food in a pleasing way. Use foods of different colors and textures and use garnishes to add a spot of color and to take up space on the plate.

• For an appetizer, use cut vegetables arranged around a low-fat salad dressing. Don't have dishes of nuts, candies, chips or party mixes around the house.

• Decrease the amount of fat in your recipes. For example, many recipes still taste great when you use half the suggested amount of cheese, butter or cream.

• Serve steamed, grilled or baked vegetables. In order to make them more appealing, don't overcook them and serve them in a special dish.

• Make mashed potatoes with a chicken broth instead of milk or cream or butter.

• Avoid heavy sauces or gravy. Use a low-fat recipe or slightly thickened chicken or beef broth.

• Serve vegetable soup or consomme as a first course.

• Serve appropriate meal portions.

• Make one dessert, not several.

• Plan conversation topics that will have family and friends talking instead of thinking about food.

• Make sure eating isn't the only thing to do at family gatherings. Go for walks, sleigh rides, play charades, ping-pong, board games or cards.

• Get your children involved with the cooking and baking and teach them healthy diet principles.

• Have family breakfast and lunch to prevent hunger and overeating at your holiday meal.

Reference Source 101

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