How can parents use pantry staples to introduce new flavors to their children? "Start by having your children walk the supermarket aisle with you and learn (and have fun) talking about the variety of foods you find there," says Nava Atlas, author of The Vegetarian Family Cookbook (Broadway, 2004) and The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet (Broadway, 2001).

"By taking a little time, you might be surprised by the variety, too, in the supermarket aisles blueberries, mango, zucchini, corn with red peppers, baby carrots and much more. Even kids who can't read yet can identify and talk about foods by the pictures on the label. Let them pick out some new fruits, vegetables, beans, soups, pasta sauce, pasta and more, for example, to put on your pantry shelf.

And Atlas says when children help choose foods to keep on hand, they are more likely to try those new foods, too. "Let them help you prepare pantry staples," she says. "For young kids, you handle the can opener; let your children dump the ingredients into the pot or bowl."