Good nutrition is the fuel for happiness, intelligence, accomplishment, and enduring health. But American kids are being deprived of those benefits in record numbers — and to a degree that is hard to wrap your head around.

New information released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reveals that almost half of kids ages 1 to 5 don't eat one vegetable a day, and around a third don't eat even one serving of fruit.

In addition, 57% drank a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once during the last week, according to the study.

Limiting or reducing foods that are high in added sugars, including sugar-sweetened beverages, is important because added sugars are associated with increased risk of obesity, cavities, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, the report adds. 

Many times, poor nutrition happens because families don't have easy access to healthy foods, or they aren't aware of the harm bad dietary habits inflict on their kids and themselves.

Whatever the cause, every parent needs to understand that cooking nutritious, delicious foods your kids will love — and that will love them back — does not have to be expensive or difficult.

But it does take a bit of planning and a bit of research — say, by reading the recipes in my "What to Eat When Cookbook" and searching online for "healthy meals the kids will love." I got 753 million Google responses in 0.54 seconds when I searched that phrase.