Take time to teach healthy habits that can last through adulthood.

For children, the annual exodus from school means the fun begins. But parents worry that a relaxed schedule can mean regular meals and healthy eating go the way of the textbooks during summer months.

Granted, many children will be physically active, which is a happy, healthy benefit of school break. But escape from the usual routine can also translate into lazy eating habits — and for many children, too much free time is spent in sedentary activities such as computer games or watching TV.

Parents can help children stay active and eat healthfully this summer with these tips from the American Heart Association:

n Move it! Encourage physical activities that kids really enjoy. If they like it, they'll stick with it.

n Plan times for the whole family to take a walk, go to a farmers' market, ride bikes, swim, garden (children love to play in the dirt and watch things grow) or just play outdoors.

n Be the role model. Your healthy, active behavior says, "Do as I do!" If you park yourself in front of the TV and eat unhealthy snacks, your kids may want to do the same.

n Set specific goals and limits that kids can understand and work toward, like completing one hour of physical activity per day, or cutting back on desserts (other than fruit) to two per week.

n Be supportive and reward good behavior with a fun activity or a new pair of walking shoes — anything except food, especially candy and sweets.

n Get children involved in planning and preparing meals. Not only do most children really enjoy this activity, but research shows they're much more likely to try new foods if they've had a hand in preparing them. Summer is a perfect time to encourage your children to help with their breakfast, lunch and snacks. Make it part of the daily routine.

n Turn off the TV and video games and enlist the kids' help to create a grocery shopping list together. The American Heart Association's free, online "My Grocery List" builder at heartcheckmark.org is a great way the kids can use the computer to browse, with your help, through more than 800 certified heart-healthy products. Together you can click on favorite foods and create a shopping list to print and take to the store. (The children may enjoy making their own special list.) Children will get a kick out of this easy-to-use tool. And, grocery shopping just got faster and more fun!

n Consider dinnertime family time. When you dine together as a family, there's less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much.

n Make reading food labels a family game. Everyone can get involved in learning about what's good for their health. This is a habit that can help change behavior for a lifetime.

¾ cup cornflakes2 tablespoons sliced almonds2 tablespoons sweetened shredded coconut2 cups fat-free or low-fat plain yogurt, combined with 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 2 cups fat-free, sugar-free or low-fat vanilla yogurt1 teaspoon grated orange zest1 medium mango, diced, or 1 cup blueberries or sliced strawberries1 8-ounce can pineapple tidbits packed in their own juice, drainedPut cornflakes in small plastic bag. Crush to make about 2 tablespoons coarse crumbs.Heat medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Dry-roast almonds and coconut 1½ minutes, or until beginning to brown, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.Stir in cornflakes.In medium bowl, stir together yogurt mixture and orange zest.In another medium bowl, stir together mango and pineapple.In each of 4 parfait or wine glasses, layer mixtures in following order: ¼ cup yogurt mixture, ¼ cup fruit mixture, 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture, ¼ cup fruit mixture, 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture. Top each serving with 1 heaping tablespoon cornflake mixture.Serves 4: ½ cup fruit, ½ cup yogurt mixture, and 1 heaping tablespoon cornflake mixture per servingNutrition analysis per serving: Calories 191, Total Fat 3.0g (Saturated 1.0 grams, Polyunsaturated 0.5 grams, Monounsaturated 1.0 grams), Carbohydrates 35 grams, Sugars 31 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Cholesterol 3 milligrams, Protein 8 grams, Sodium 124 milligramsDietary Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 skim milk, ½ other carbohydrateThis recipe is reprinted with permission from "Healthy Recipes Kids Love," Copyright &Copy; 2005 by the American Heart Association. Published by Publications International, Ltd. Available online at shopheart.org. All materials courtesy of: American Heart Association