THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY MY DAUGHTER, VIRGINIA FOR THE WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM IN OUR STATE AND I HAD TO PASS IT ON.

VIRGINIA'S TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND KEEPING THE GROCERY BILL DOWN:

* SET A GOOD EXAMPLE BY ADOPTING HEALTHY EATING HABITS YOURSELF.

*OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

*RESIST FAST FOOD MEALS AND MEALS THAT DEPEND ON HUGE SERVINGS OF MEAT.

*OFFER HEALTHY MEALS TO YOUR CHILDREN AND LET THEM DECIDE HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH.

"I GREW UP IN A LARGE FAMILY - ELEVEN PEOPLE IN ALL. WITH EIGHT BROTHERS AND SISTERS MY PARENTS HAD TO BE ECONOMICAL. MEALS WERE ALWAYS FILLING YET THRIFTY, FOODS LIKE SPAGHETTI, AND LOTS OF IT. ONCE IN A WHILE MY MOTHER WOULD ADD A CAN OF VEGETABLES TO THE MEAL BUT WE RARELY ATE FRESH FRUITS OR VEGETABLES.

I HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN NOW, THEIR PEDIATRICIAN TOLD ME THAT EATING HABITS ARE SET BY AGE FIVE. THAT SHOCKED ME. I REALIZED I HAD A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. I WANTED MY CHILDREN TO LEARN HEALTHY EATING HABITS EARLY SO THEY WOULD HAVE THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

I HAD NEVER CONSIDERED MYSELF TO HAVE PARTICULARLY HEALTHY EATING HABITS, BUT PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT I STARTED BUYING AND EATING HEALTHIER FOODS. SURE, I COULD HAVE SERVED THESE FOODS TO MY CHILDREN AND CONTINUED EATING CANDY AND OTHER OLD FAVORITES. BUT I KNEW I COULDN'T KEEP THIS GAME UP FOREVER, AND IT JUST SEEMED EASIER TO LEARN TO LIKE WHAT I WANTED MY CHILDREN TO EAT. BESIDES, NOT ONLY DID I WANT TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE, I WANTED TO STAY HEALTHY FOR MY CHILDREN, TOO.

NOW MOST OF WHAT I BUY IS VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, YET REMARKABLY MY WEEKLY GROCERY BILL IS LESS THAN MY FRIENDS' BILLS. I DON'T BUY THE MORE EXPENSIVE ORGANIC PRODUCE OR PRODUCE THAT IS OUT OF SEASON. WE DON'T KEEP A LOT OF UNHEALTHY SNACKS AROUND EITHER. AND WE DON'T DEPEND ON FAST-FOOD MEALS. I LEARNED EARLY THAT HUGE SERVINGS OF MEAT AND A RELIANCE ON FAST-FOOD MEALS ADD UP TO FAR MORE THAN MY PRODUCE-HEAVY BILL.

OTHERS ARE AMAZED AT HOW MY CHILDREN EAT. AVOCADO SPRINKLED WITH GARLIC POWER IS ALWAYS A BIG HIT. THE OLDER CHILDREN SCOOP IT OUT OF THE SHELL WITH A SPOON - THE PERFECT 30 SECOND SNACK. SALADS ARE A FAVORITE TOO WHEN DRIZZLED WITH A LIGHT TOUCH OF RANCH DRESSING. TOMATO SLICES ARE DEVOURED WHEN SPRINKLED WITH CHEESE AND A LITTLE OLIVE OIL AND VINEGAR.

MEAL TIME IS A PEACEFUL TIME AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE WE RESPECT EACH OTHER ENOUGH NOT TO COMMENT ON WHAT OTHERS EAT. I DON'T HANG OVER THEM TO EAT MORE. I OFFER ABOUT FIVE HEALTHY FOODS ON A PLATE AND SAY NOTHING. GIVING THEM INDEPENDENCE TO LISTEN TO THEIR OWN BODY HAS RESULTED IN CHILDREN WHO EAT JUST UNTIL THEY ARE FULL.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT INVESTMENT: FIVE YEARS OF HEALTHY EATING FOR A LIFETIME OF NOT JUST HEALTHY HABITS BUT HEALTHY LIVING. I NEVER GUESSED I WOULD ALSO RECEIVE THE EXTRA BONUS OF LEARNING TO LIKE HEALTHY FOODS MYSELF. I'M SO PROUD OF THE WAY MY CHILDREN EAT - AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF, TOO."