When is the best time to start teaching children about healthy, nutritious habits? Perhaps when they are 6 or 7 years old, according to Bobby Jones of Milan, Ohio. Bobby's farm is used as a backdrop to teach "Veggie U" to kids all kinds of aspects of nutrition, using fresh vegetables as the backdrop of the curriculum.

The "Veggie U" program is usually taught over five weeks in the classroom in 21 states, and Veggie U organizers expect the program to reach 500 classrooms by the end of this school year. I say that this is a wonderful way to get kids excited and participating in such a healthy line of information, and hopefully one that will stick with them for good against the daily assault of very unhealthy foods, snacks and soft drinks that kids face these days.

With childhood obesity being such an alarming problem these days, programs like this are needed now more than ever. Says Kelly Bohn, a fourth-grade teacher, "If they have a choice between an apple and a Snickers bar, hopefully they'll think about it and weigh out their options." My sentiments exactly -- education and knowledge is power, and especially for kids.