You want your child to be healthy, and one of the cornerstones of good health is nutrition. If your child is a picky eater, likes to eat junk food, or loves sugary foods and drinks, great nutrition can be difficult to achieve. Your pediatrician can help.

According to Healthychildren.org, ideal daily calories are about 1000 for ages 2-3, 1200-1400 for ages 4-8, 1400-1600 for girls 9-13, 1600-2000 for boys 9-13, 1800 for girls 14-18, and 2000-2400 for boys 14-18.

You should feed your child lean proteins like fish, chicken and turkey; fruits including whole fruits rather than juices; vegetables including green leafy vegetables; whole grains like rice, quinoa, and whole wheat; and dairy products including milk, yogurt, and cheese.

To promote healthy eating habits: eat a healthy diet yourself, have regularly scheduled family meals, provide a wide variety of food choices, keep healthy snacks on hand, avoid making a big deal over food, and involve your child in food choices and cooking.