My son has a penchant for sugary cereals. I adopted him at age 10, so he had 10 years of forming his tastes and eating habits before he moved home with me. Luckily, he does enjoy a number of healthy foods. (I just recently succeeded in getting him to try (and enjoy) salmon.) Breakfast foods, however, are more of a challenge.

More often than not we have oatmeal, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, or eggs. But I do like to have a box of cereal in the pantry for those busy days. Getting him to change his preferences has been a slow process. In fact, just recently when we were at the grocery store he said "Fruit Loops are healthy. Right, Mom? They're made of fruit." Uh.... no.

HealthCastle has a great article discussing the truth about reduced-sugar products -- from cereal to instant oatmeal to granola bars to juice -- that are popping up on store shelves. The products are often aimed at kids, yet the claim of "reduced sugar" is supposed to appeal to health-conscious parents. Often, artificial sweeteners are used in place of the sugar -- calorie content remains about the same.

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When you reach for a snack, fresh fruits and veggies are always a wonderful option, packing loads of nutrients without packing on the pounds. However, most of us have occasions where an apple just isn't going to cut it. For those occasions, check out FitnessMagazine.com's 2008 Healthy Food Awards: The Best Snacks.

We're not just talking granola bars (although they do list their favorite) -- you'll find cereals, puddings, canned fruits, energy bars, cookies and more.

Keep in mind, even the best cookies aren't going to provide the same nutrition as a piece of fruit, but if you're going to splurge, some items are better than others. I was pleasantly surprised to find some of my favorites on the list -- does it contain any of yours?

To learn more about healthy eating habits, check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off Summer Quick Fix.

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I'm not much of a cook, but even I think this recipe for granola bars looks not only easy but delicious. And considering granola bars make such handy snacks, and the store-bought kinds usually have so much added sugar and preservatives, it wouldn't be a bad idea to make a batch for yourself and family every so often. And one more reason I'm feeling inspired to give this a shot is the fact that the recipe is so easily interchanged to add some variety and switch up flavors, and you can find the perfect combination.

Now to come up with a cute way to wrap them besides Press 'n Seal...

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Ever heard the saying, "eat all you want and lose weight?" Most of the time it is followed with a commercial for some kind of diet pill or drink to help you lose weight no matter what you eat. But the saying holds its truth to some extent. Eating frequently increases metabolism and keeps you from binging during meal times. Eating often will help keep your blood sugar from dipping, which can cause you to eat the wrong things in the wrong portions. You don't have to eat those packaged granola bars all day long either. Here are a few tasty snacks that are good for you and mix proteins and fiber together which will make you feel full and stay full longer. Remember that choosing healthy foods is as important at snack time as it is at mealtime. Forget the chips, candy bars and sodas and replace them with water or herbal teas and these great healthy snacks combinations. Eating this way will make it is easier to eat a sensible well balanced meal with lighter portions and help you reach that desired weight and maintain it. You will also be amazed how much weight you will lose by replacing soft drinks or diet sodas with water and herbal teas.

Easy and healthy items for snack time.
Carrots, cucumbers & hummus
Raisins & a handful of nuts
Apples & peanut butter
Low-fat cottage cheese & sliced peaches or other fruits
Yogurt & strawberries
Hummus & pita bread
Celery & cream cheese
Granola & yogurt
Bowl of cheerios and low fat milk
Broccoli & bean dip
Peanut butter on whole wheat crackers
A slice of angel food cake with non-fat whipped topping
Popcorn
Mixed fruit with bananas, apples, grapes and pineapple
1/4 cup dry roasted soy nuts
Applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon and granola
4 cold boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce and whole wheat crackers