By justodd
on Jan 30, 2008  

If they can make it look good I might try it.

By danzegirl
on Jan 30, 2008  

Having Celiac Disease if the product does not say "Modified Food Starch" and actually tells you what food starch I am more likely to buy. Also any company that gives you allergy information on the packaging or online is a plus!!

By kycatymoas
on Jan 30, 2008  

I am VERY picky, as my kids are, so if it is a brand I trust, I buy it or will try different varities they come out w/

By zlobina
on Jan 30, 2008  

I try to teach my kids about healthy choices for your body. My 4 yr old says that she will grow up to be as tall as me and she knows that milk gives you strong bones to grow with. so i buy what is best for our family because they learn by example and if i drink water instead of soda.......that is what they ask for too!

By rsiddon
on Jan 30, 2008  

I know that the foods we get today are not nutritional balanced. They do not have the same vitamins and minerals they had even just 30 years ago.

It is important to supplement your food with a great vitamin supplement and eat lots of fresh vegetables! Look for organically grown products and don't microwave your food.

By frogqueen75
on Jan 30, 2008  

Honestly, what REALLY influences the brands & types of foods I buy is which companies offer coupons on a fairly regular basis, are frequent sale items, and have informative websites. I'm a stay-home mom with another baby on the way, so we try very hard to make my husband's income stretch as far as it will go. However, I also make sure we aren't sacrificing healthy food for cheap food.

By TinaGW
on Jan 30, 2008  

It's really a toss-up between nutritional info and my own tastes. Fortunately my tastes are running toward more healthy choices these days!

By bncreative
on Jan 30, 2008  

I prefer foods without preservative and like it to be very nutritious for my family.

By CocoPuff
on Jan 30, 2008  

I would love to say i only buy organic, cook from scratch, and all that, but I can't -- I simply do not have the time or skill to do that. I base what I buy on everyone's likes, and go from there. I avoid certain things like excessive fat, but I don't follow the "sugar or fat will never pass these lips" because it's simply not practical for my family -- we're all pretty healthy, so I can't be all that wrong.

A funny (and true) story from a shopping trip the other day -- I was in the canned veggie aisle, and this mom was with her little girl, and the mom was getting the corn with Dora the Explorer on it, the green beans with Sesame Street. As the mom was arranging them in the cart, the little girl said "I don't care if Dora is on it mama, I am NOT eating that!" LOL I had to laugh. From the Spongebob bananas to Dora corn, it seems like the characters don't have *that* much of an impact on what that little girl is going to eat. Sure, she may love the package, but she knew what was inside, and she was having nothing to do with it, LOL.

By septmom
on Jan 30, 2008  

I think home-cooked meals are almost a lost art. I am so glad that channels like Food Network and cooks like Rachel Ray, have reminded people that good, healthy food doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. I am in the best health of my life simply from avoiding prepared/processed foods and eating meals that I cooked myself. As a working mom, I do struggle to find the time to cook, but I do believe it's worth it. Even a batch of Toll House cookies is much healthier if baked at home instead of from the refrigerator section.