Encourage loved ones to eat more vegetables and fruits with these ideas:

• Play the odds. Serve foods that are natural favorites, then load up their crop content. Pad pizza with peppers, spinach, eggplant, or artichokes. Or blend tomatoes, garlic, or squash into the sauce.

• Make it fun. Smear apples or celery with protein-rich peanut butter, which kids can also use as edible glue for attaching raisins, grape slices, or carrot shavings.

• Give them a say. Get family members involved in the decision-making process. Let kids pick out their veggie or fruit of choice. Make dinner preparation a family affair, assigning older kids to chop veggies and younger kids to mix them. Or plant a garden and invite everyone to take part. Personal investment in the growth and selection of foods can help promote a genuine interest in eating them.