A number of recent studies have further proven the pervasiveness--and subsequent danger--of sodium levels in the American diet, even for toddlers. It's not news that many busy Americans rely on pre-packaged convenience foods to feed their hunger on a regular basis, and it's definitely not a surprise that most of these foods are far from nutritional superstars, but it probably is a bit of shocker for most parents that foods manufactured just for babies and toddlers may actually be doing them more harm than good. Find out why and discover how to make three easy, nutritious snacks for the littlest members of your family.

Want to know the secret to raising a smart, open-minded kid? I know I certainly do! And I'm betting this Japanese mom has figured it out: in a YouTube series called "Rino which eats world various dishes", a mom is tackling cooking dishes from various different countries and then films her daughter trying them for the first time. It's pretty much the most adorable thing EVER! Watching little Rino try a tortilla Española for the first time seriously made my heart melt.

Today is the second annual Food Day. Do you know what that is? I bet you might now. I first heard about this day last year, just before the first official Food Day and I found out why October 24 is very special.

Food Day is "a nationwide celebration and movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food." I think it's one of the most important food holidays because it deals with more than just fancy party food or the one day a year that you're making turkey. Instead, this is a day devoted to spreading the  message that healthy food--especially the kind that comes from nearby farms--doesn't have to be expensive.

As someone who's gone up-and-down in weight her whole life, I know now that eating healthy is ALL about keeping the weight off and I am absolutely determined to make sure that I do the same with my family. That's why I think it's very important to eat real food, instead of processed junk--and even teaching the kids to eat real food, too! Want to know how? Read on!

Cooking with your kids is one of the things I treasure most. It's the best way to both ensure that you're making something they'll like as well as teaching them valuable skills for the future. One of my favorite things, though, is teaching kids how to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients like the delicious Autumn fruits and veggies found in these 5 Latin Fall recipes that are kid-friendly.

From yuca fries (cause what kid doesn't like fries?) with chipotle mayonnaise or boniato mash (like mashed potatoes, only BETTER) with mojo, there's a delicious side dish anyone will love. Then there's the mushroom quesadilla (great for lunch!) or the fettuccine with a tomatillo and cilantro pesto (oh my, YUM!), both of which I'm craving right now. And, of course, you can't end stop until you make a pumpkin spice flan for dessert. Dig in!

It's that time of the year again, moms: BACK TO SCHOOL!

When I was younger, I had the terrible habit of never eating breakfast. Even when my mom tried, I would just say I didn't have time or wasn't hungry. Then, of course, I would be tired and starving by the time lunch came around.

You don't want the same for your kids, right? That's why I've found the 5 easiest, quickest breakfasts that your kids will love. From two that you can make overnight (my own super-delicious slow cooker coconut banana oatmeal and dulce de leche French toast) to the geniously simple avocado toast to the classic Mexican breakfast tacos and the tasty eggs with tortilla chips, salsa and cheese. Everyone in the family is sure to enjoy these great pre-school meals!

I'm a firm believer in snacking. Granted, typically I focus on healthy snacks in order to keep the weight off. Once in a while, though, I like to indulge in delicious sweet treats for the middle of the day.

The best thing about snacking, though, is making one of these 9 fun and super-creative snacks that the kids will love. Actually, I kind of want to make them all immediately. Seriously! Some of these snacks are healthy, some are not-so-healthy but absolutely all of them are delicious and kid-friendly, so your little chefs can join you in the kitchen, too! Check them out and enjoy.

Brazilian-born chef Marco Moreira knows a thing or two about how to heat things up in the kitchen as the executive chef and partner at Tocqueville and 15 East in New York. Now he's doing good work in a whole other kitchen, though: his own!

The chef has become a model father and has been teaching his daughter, 10-year-old Francesca, to cook since she was a little girl. Now the girl helps her father out whenever he cooks at home and, to my amazement, it's one of the best ways to help your kids learn to love vegetables. So how does he do it? Here are some of Marco's tips on cooking with kids.

If your children are addicted to the Disney Channel (like I was as a kid and even sometimes a teen), then here's some good news for all moms out there: the Walt Disney Co. has just announced that they plan to help kids kick their junk food habit by only allowing the advertising of healthier foods to kids on their TV channels.

In a move that they're calling the "first major media company to set a standard for food advertising on kid-focused TV programming", I for one hope that more people follow in their footsteps. Anyone that's helping to curb the childhood obesity problem has a big stamp of approval in my book.