how to cook for your kids and still eat right?

Nice, well thought out response there.

Instead of making french fries with regular potatoes, use sweet potatoes, make over fried chicken strips, make healthy wraps, its so many things you can do. You just have to try different foods and see what works

I am one of those people that believe we did not climb to the top of the food chain to eat the bottom.

I try to make things fun. For broccoli we pretend we are gaints and are eating trees. I try to steam that with water infused with sea salt. Not to much but enough to give you a flavor. I also got my son to eat spinach pasta but telling him it was Hulk Pasta and would make him strong. A little trick here and there works for me. They are young so i can get away with that.

Depends on how you're looking at it... are you cooking something for your kids and something "healthy" for yourself? If that's the case, just watch it. Kids like to eat what mom / dad are eating, and for them to be given "whatever" while you eat healthy...
What you're eating that is healthy and well rounded should be decent enough to give to your kids, it may take a few times to get them to like it, we're learning to like spaghetti squash here in place of the pasta (50 calories for a plate-ful instead of 300) and similar choices.

Here's a kid-friendly meal that we enjoy every Monday: macaroni and cheese (Annie's brand) and edamame. The kids will like popping the beans out of the pods.

oh yeah, and we have a try it once rule here. you MUST try everything, chew swallow and a second fork full. if after that you do not like it, thats one thing, but you can usually tell if they are bluffing by how quickly they take the second fork full ;P

On a side note, my diary is public in case you're looking for inspiration or ideas!
I'm a vegetarian, and eat a well balanced diet of whole grains, proteins (tofu, beans, legumes, seeds, nuts, edamame, etc..) and alternative milks such as hemp milk, almond, soy and even coconut.

I have fun with food! My favorite go-to meal is stir-fry. I've posted a "how to" on my blog for making no-fail stir-fry dishes. Of course, you can always add any meat or seafood here if you choose to.

http://thedeviantvegetarian.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-healthy-stir-fry-dinner.html

My kids love a juicy, tender pork loin with rice and broccoli on the side. We also enjoy soft tacos together, which include greens, tomato and avocado. They're not fans of my whole wheat tortillas, so I just give them regular tortillas. My kids also like halibut, which is a great healthy option.

I don't have kids, but these are a few things I make for my nephews:

Turkey burgers on whole wheat buns and homemade baked french fries or brown rice
Pita bread pizzas: Whole wheat pita pockets with tomato sauce, mozzarella, veggies, whatever else you like on pizza. You can also use the small pita pockets for individual pizzas
Whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs
Chicken soft tacos: Shredded chicken, low fat cheese, lettuce, tomato, homemade guacamole or salsa, with whole wheat tortillas

We try to eat healthy most nights so it is easier. If we are eating a meal that isn't as healthy I add extra veggies to my plate or I watch my portions more.

I have always offered my son a variety of things since he starting eating solids and his favorite veggies are broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Haha He also loves fruit and will pick fruit over any sweets every time. So that is what I am trying to do with my daughter as well.

We also do not have dessert. If it is a special occasion we have ice cream or cake but if they are still hungry after dinner they have fruit or yogurt or something like that.

My biggest problem right now is everyone likes to eat out once a week. That used to be fine because i believe everything in moderation is key but it has been hard since I started on this new plan. Haha

Since joining MFP, I've just started taking family favourites and making them healthier. As a stay-at-home mum, I have absolutely refused to make separate evening meals for the kids. So they've eaten all manner of fruits and veg since they were able to take solid food. They also like a wide variety of meats and carbs. I haven't convinced either of them to eat sweet potatoes, so when we have potatoes with a meal, I steam or roast new potatoes for them and sweet potatoes for hubby and I. I've also been adding more veg to pasta sauces, not frying foods in oil, using leaner cuts of meat and cutting off any visible bits of fat. Once a week, I make a vegetarian meal, loaded with beans for protein. I have reduced my portions, as I'm the one with the problem, not the kids (and they eat kid-sized portions, not adult ones). I have also let the kids watch and help me cook in the kitchen (they are aged 2 and 5). They are more likely to try something new if they've had a hand in the prep work.

I also decided to start talking to my son about health and fitness. He's noticed a change in my habits, so I explained to him why I'm trying to eat healthier foods and adding in exercise. We've talked about why it's okay to have certain foods (junk food - which he knows includes biscuits, sweets, chips and crisps) occasionally but not every day. We've also talked a little bit about calories, but I tell him he doesn't have to worry, because it's part of my job to help him be healthy.

If we really want to make lifestyle changes, we need to involve the people (big and little) in our lives as much as possible.