Children come in all shapes and sizes, partly because of genetics and partly because children grow at very different rates. Here are a few tips to help your children grow at the optimal rate for their genetic potential:

Eat more food from the USDA's MyPyramid, going easy on the "discretionary calories". Try not to make disparaging remarks about food, your body weight or the body weight of others.

Snack time is a good time to slip in an extra glass of milk and some fruits and vegetables. Children are hungry after school and are likely to eat anything you put in front of them!

Family meals are a time to serve healthy foods and connect as a family. Research in the August 2004 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that children are more likely to do well in school and less likely to use tobacco, alcohol and marijuana when family meals are routinely served.

Kids usually overeat when they are eating in front of the TV. Keep the TV off while you are eating and eat all meals and snacks at the kitchen table rather than on the couch.

Sweet drinks are loaded with empty calories and kids can easily drink too much of them. Juice (100 %) is better than soda, but is also high in calories. So limit fruit juice to one serving a day.