Ask a room full of toddlers what their favorite vegetable is and it’s highly likely they will have a clear favorite -- french fries.

Unfortunately, this fatty, over-processed choice isn’t the healthiest option. No wonder why, according to a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 26% of 2-to-5-year-olds are at risk of becoming overweight, and 14% are already overweight.

Why are so many little kids struggling with their weight? The same reason they are addicted to fries. Somewhere during the journey from babyhood to toddlerdom, children develop a taste for certain foods. But as babies can’t exactly serve themselves, moms and dads are clearly the ones providing their children with food choices that eventually become favorites. Sure, fries are yummy, and eating them is fine once in a while. But what can we do to help encourage our kids to actually like better foods?

Experts like Erin Patterson, founder of Small Bites, a company that educates parents about healthy feeding habits, feels that moving away from jarred foods and making your own baby food are great ways to encourage your child to develop a taste for healthier, natural foods early on.

“Jarred food just isn’t real,” says Patterson. “When kids are learning to eat, they miss out on the natural textures and flavors that shape their preferences later on. Don’t be afraid to push the envelope. If it’s safe for them to eat, go on and serve it!”

Patterson also feels that the earlier you begin to instill your children with healthy eating habits, the better.

“Toddlers are very skeptical and picky,” says Patterson. “When kids turn one, they begin to assert their independence by saying no a lot. And one of their favorite things to say no to is new food. A great strategy is to introduce them to a variety of healthy foods before they hit this phase. If a child knows and loves a food by the time they are a year old, they are less likely to refuse that food later on.”

Granted - no child is going to love every fruit or vegetable they are served. But by introducing them to a variety of healthy, natural foods early on, you’ll be more likely to hear your toddler say yes to better choices.