No matter how well-behaved or happy your kids are, some days feeding them is a real pain! They don't want what's healthy, they want the worst thing in the house for them, whether that's slices of greasy leftover pizza or multiple packages of Twinkies. There's a broad middle ground, though, between forcing your children onto all-natural plain granola and letting them raid the pantry for ding-dongs, and it can be easier than you might think to reach an agreement.

The first thing to realize is that snacks, especially healthy ones, are not a bad thing. Children have higher metabolisms than adults do (where else would they get their energy?) and can go through the energy that food gives them extremely quickly. What you can do is provide them with snacks that give them energy, but avoid the inevitable sugar drop that occurs if you give them something too sweet.

Starting young, one of the best things you can do for a child is give him a taste for fresh organic fruit. Fruit is sweet and will appeal to his taste buds, but it doesn't have the fat and sodium issues that come with chocolate or chips.

Fruit is also easy to keep in the house and can be handed to your child without guilt or hesitation when he comes to you saying he's hungry. An orange, for example, will provide your child with a dose of Vitamin C and a quick energy boost. For something even sweeter, go with raisins. You can purchase the small boxes of raisins and, depending on your school's rules, hand two to your child as he leaves for school. He can eat these healthy snacks whenever he wants to.

Snacks like whole-grain muffins or crackers are also ideal, because they can be stored and accessed easily and they will keep your child full longer. Unlike chips or pretzels, varieties can be found that are low in fat and sodium, keeping your child healthier in the long run.

Yogurt can also be a real crowd-pleaser. Start with plain yogurt and let your child have the fun of deciding what he wants to use to add flavor. Some kids prefer their yogurt plain, while others will have a great time adding strawberry, blueberry or bananas. This perfect after-school snack can be prepared easily. If you wanted to, you could prepare small packets of add-ins for the yogurt after school, and your child could mix them himself.

A small vegetable platter might also be a good idea, and you can leave it available in the fridge for open snacking. Fill it with carrots, sticks of celery, maybe a few cubes of cheese, set aside some sort of dip and your children will have a great-tasting snack that's available whenever they feel they need it.

More than just encouraging them to eat healthier today, you are helping them create healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. At this stage, it's important to keep them happy as well as healthy, and with a little effort, your children will automatically associate the word "snack" with healthy food and good choices!