What's the best way to encourage your child to eat a healthy diet? A new study from researchers at the US Department of Agriculture Children's Nutrition Research Center says that when parents eat diets rich in fruits and vegetables, their daughters are more likely to eat healthily, too.

In this study researchers evaluated the eating habits of almost 200 parents and their 5-year-old daughters. Parents reported how many fruits and vegetables they ate, and the girls' nutritional intake of fruits, vegetables, nutrients and fat was also recorded.

The results? Parents who ate lots of fruits and vegetables were likely to have daughters who ate those foods, too. Girls who ate more fruits and vegetables had higher intakes of vitamins and minerals and ate less fat. In contrast parents who consumed fewer fruits and vegetables had daughters who consumed fewer fruits and vegetables.

If you're interested in helping your child eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low in fat, the answer is simple: do it yourself. Try incorporating healthy foods at family mealtimes where everyone is eating the same meal. If you go out to a restaurant, demonstrate to your child that a baked potato topped with broccoli is a healthier choice than French fries. And when you pack lunches for school and work, stash an apple and carrot sticks in both adults' and kids' bags.

Sources:  Fisher JO, Mitchell DC, Smiciklas-Wright H, Birch LL. Parental influences on young girls' fruit and vegetable, micronutrient, and fat intakes. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2002 Jan;102(1):58-64.