(ARA) - From friendly clown spokesmen to colorful grab-and-go convenience, fast food has a lot of appeal for kids. Is it any wonder, then, that nearly a third of all American children are overweight and 15 percent outright obese?

Increasingly, health advocates, nutritionists and smart parents are fighting fire with fire by presenting healthy foods in ways that children will find fun and appealing.

"Sure a lot of unhealthy foods taste good, but children also choose these foods because they are perceived as 'fun,' " says Jodi Berg, marketing director of Vita-Mix Corporation, a company that has been making kitchen appliances dedicated to healthy eating that's delicious, fun and easy for over 70 years. "Fun is the secret ingredient that can also get kids to choose foods that are good for them."

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Nowadays with our hectic lifestyles, we often don’t have time to prepare home cooked meals. We simply don’t have time to sit down to a leisurely meal anymore!

Fortunately, fast food is prepared and served very quickly for those people on-the-go. Besides being convenient, eating out is handy for those who are too tired to slave over a hot stove, don’t want to bother washing dishes, or for those who simply don’t know how to cook!

However, all these benefits come at a price: fast food usually isn’t the healthiest of choices; most of the nutritional value is taken out! How often do you eat fast food? Do younger people eat more of it? Do those with higher incomes eat out more often? Do larger families prefer home cooking or fast food? We’ve gathered some results to share with you.

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