From fluorescent yogurt to 100-calorie snack packs, most "kid friendly" food has little nutritional benefit. We've convinced ourselves that in order to get kids to eat it, food needs to be packaged into something fake, colored, and far from its natural source. No wonder kids protest when we ask them to eat their vegetables. They don't come in a box!

Enter Stacey Antine, founder of HealthBarn USA, an organization at the front lines of introducing kids and their families to healthy eating habits and real food. While some parents "sneak" nutritious foods into meals, Antine knows from experience that the key to raising adventurous, wise eaters is to connect kids to the food they eat. Kids are more likely to try new foods and make healthy choices if they understand where ingredients come from, know why certain foods are good for their bodies and minds, and have an active role in preparation, from gathering ingredients to cooking.

In Appetite for Life, mealtime is no longer a battleground, but an opportunity for fun and experimentation. In fact, Antine encourages giving children a voice: with her "no yucks allowed" method, kids use a thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating system for each new food they try, but they always have to try at least one bite.

Featuring food the whole family will love (no more separate kids menu!), this book includes: nutritious, easy-to-make recipes for all three meals plus snack time, which have been tested and approved by the thousands of kids who attend HealthBarn; family activities like Stacey's Supermarket Spy Kids game; and great-tasting, home-made alternatives to your go-to store-bought foods, with side-by-side nutritional analysis to highlight the benefits of learning to eat the HealthBarn way. Appetite for Life is the key ingredient to a healthier, happier dinner table.