sneak in some veggies

Pizza

The Makeover: Whether you're ordering in, heating it up, or making it from scratch, top your pie with flavor-packed nutrient-boosters like chopped tomatoes, red peppers, broccoli, and basil leaves. Aim for about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vegetables or fruit (pineapple makes a great topper) per slice. Bonus: This is a great task for a mini sous chef hankering to help in the kitchen.

Expert Tip: If you opt to make your pie from scratch, use a whole wheat crust and low-fat cheese. "Or try mixing parmesan or white cheddar with your basic mozzarella," says Sarah Krieger, RD, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. The stronger flavor of those cheeses means you can get away with using less.

Chicken Fingers

The Makeover: Balance out this typically fried dish by serving healthy sides. Instead of greasy French fries, make your own baked sweet potato fries -- they're packed with vitamin A and also provide some fiber if you leave the skin on. "Keep some sliced veggies on the table too," advises Krieger. "If they're out there, your kids will inevitably munch on them."

Expert Tip: For healthier chicken nuggets, skip the premade stuff. Instead, dip chicken breasts or tenders in egg wash (a mix of egg whites and skim milk), then in seasoned bread crumbs or crushed corn flakes. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees F. for 20 minutes.

Mac-and-Cheese

The Makeover: Whipping it up from the box? Then just add some frozen mixed vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots, which help to boost this high-fat, low-fiber entree. "Don't assume your kids won't like it -- everything tastes better when it's doused in cheese!" says Krieger. In fact, a recent Penn State University study found that using "stealth vegetables" -- hiding them in sauces so that kids don't automatically recognize them -- helped boost preschoolers' veggie intake and slash their calorie consumption significantly compared to those who ate pasta without extra vegetables tossed in.

Expert Tip: If you're doing the from-scratch thing, make your dish even healthier with whole wheat pasta and low-fat cheese. Try flavor-packed cheddar instead of processed American.

Hot Dogs

The Makeover: For a natural way to serve up veggies with this summertime staple, prepare your dogs Chicago-style -- topped with pickles, tomato slices, onions, and peppers -- on whole wheat buns. Or you can try serving a brocoslaw salad, a healthier take on traditional coleslaw that uses shredded broccoli in addition to cabbage and carrots. Look for a prepackaged bag at your local market, and mix in a low-fat dressing instead of mayo.

Expert Tip: "Be a food label maven," says Neville. "There are so many options out there, so pick hot dogs with the least total fat and saturated fat per serving."

Spaghetti & Meatballs

The Makeover: "Marinara sauce is a good start," says Neville, "But you can doctor it up by mixing in a can of antioxidant-packed diced tomatoes before heating in a saucepan." Then toss in shredded carrots, chopped mushrooms, and onions to beef up the veggie quotient even more.

Expert Tip: "Because of restaurant super-sizing, we're used to eating meatballs as big as a fist," says Neville. Instead, give mini-meatballs a go. The portions are more age-appropriate and easier for little kids to handle, and chances are you and your hubby will eat a bit less (and cut back on calories) too.

Grilled Cheese

The Makeover: Add a slice of lean ham or turkey and a couple of tomatoes before grilling for a quick way to pack this simple sandwich with more protein and veggies.

Expert Tip: Skip the butter (it's high in saturated fat). Instead, brush the pan with unsaturated canola oil, which is more heart-healthy.

Peanut Butter & Jelly

The Makeover: PB&J is a natural fit for add-ons like bananas and apple slices, says Neville. You can even try skipping the jelly entirely (most commercial jellies are sugar-packed empty calories) and loading the sandwich up with fruit instead.

Expert Tip: Regular peanut butter has extra sugar and may contain artery-clogging trans fats and saturated fats. So buy natural peanut butter and serve it on whole wheat bread. Kid won't part with his go-to grape jelly? Look for labels that say "low sugar" or "fruit only."