A survey by the NPD Group, an organization that tracks national eating trends, found that moms across the U.S. have bumped the cookie out of the #1 snack spot, and replaced it with fruit.

Snacks attribute to about a quarter of a child’s daily calories, so wholesome snack choices are important to their overall health. Good snack choices while children are young will also set a pattern for healthy lifelong eating habits.

I think if he had the choice, my 3-year-old would actually pick fruit over a cookie. I don't blame him either -- there's nothing better than a ripe strawberry or slice of watermelon in the summer.

My kids also prefer fruit. If I do break down and allow a cookie, they nibble on it a little and then toss it. Now, fruit is another story! They will sit down together and eat a pint of strawberries and a matter of minutes...w/ a little squirt of whip cream .

When my daughter was younger, I would core, slice and cut up fruit for her little hands and mouth.

Now she's 14 and the funny thing is she eats all kinds of fruit but she won't pick up an apple and chomp into it.

She likes them sliced and cored. She's a little afraid of knives, she explains. So I don't mind doing it as long as she eats fruit instead of junk.

The things we do for love.