In the 1932 film "Taxi!" when James Cagney shouted, "You yellow-bellied dirty rat," he summed up the suspicion and disgust many people feel about rodents. But sometimes rats can tell us important information.

Take data from the latest lab study on the impact of junk food on teenage brains. Researchers from USC fed young animals fat-filled, sugary food and saw firsthand how it damaged their memory — not just for a short term but into adulthood.

Of particular interest was the acetylcholine level in the brains of the junk-food-fed rats. Acetylcholine is used to help animals encode memories, just as humans use it to develop episodic memory.

The junk food diet lowered the rats’ acetylcholine levels, and they couldn't remember what they'd seen or where they'd seen it. Rats on a healthy diet could.

So next time you think about serving your kids something from the drive-thru or packed with added sugars, remember how risky it may be to their ability to reach their full potential.

We know it can be tough to get kids to eat a healthier diet, but you can do it.

First, be their role model by cooking lean proteins and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Then, get them involved in planting veggies on the windowsill or in a garden.

Encourage them to help you plan meals and cook. At the grocery store, have them pick out five colorful vegetables.

Explore the recipes in Dr. Mike's "What to Cook When Cookbook." Together you can form great memories.