Childhood obesity is now at epidemic proportions. Part of the problem is lack of exercise. Kids enjoy themselves by watching television or by playing video games-two activities that don't lend themselves to burning a lot of calories. Added to that are the aisles filled with junk food at the store, filled with foods that are easy to drop into the grocery cart and have handy for the kids when they get hungry.

To be brutally honest, moms, this practice is killing your kids and promoting a lifetime of bad eating habits that can lead to adult obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other lifestyle illnesses.

It all starts with you, mom, and with choosing a diet that can set your children on a course of eating habits that can keep them healthy for the rest of their lives. But how to do it on a tight time schedule? What's just as easy as pizza pockets that can satisfy your kids' need to snack?

First of all, life should not be one big snackfest.

Kids do well with three balanced meals per day, especially breakfast before school or play. A healthy breakfast could include whole grain cereals with fruit or yogurt, whole grain toast or even cottage cheese with cinnamon on top. Lunch can be the biggest meal of the day or it can be reserved for dinner. Either way, these meals should provide the bulk of a kid's caloric intake so that the need for snacking is limited to only a couple of times per day.

Secondly, parents need to set a good example when it comes to snacking.

It does not look good to give celery to the kids while having your own stash of potato chips. Snacking is a family affair and should be treated as such.

Let us look at some snacks that would be a good idea to have around.

String cheese or even cut up cheese cubes make for a healthy diversion when the kids are hungry. Kids love playing with string cheese and it contains a great deal of calcium in it.

Fruits and cut up vegetables make good snacks, especially when you add some fun dip.

Vegetable dips can be as simple as ranch salad dressing or as complex as something you make from a recipe. Grapes and cut up apples are tasty, with or without dip.

For a crisp snack, aim for whole wheat crackers.

They can be eaten plain or with cottage cheese as a dip. They are a replacement for chips and have much less fat and calories.

Be creative with your snacking and do not have bad snacks around as a temptation.

Starting the healthy snack craze early in life will make it easier for kids to stick to as they get older.