By Joelle Klein

"How can we get kids to eat better?" is a question we ask so often these days that it's in danger of becoming a mindless mantra. Schools all over the country are banning soda machines and overhauling their lunch menus; pre-sliced, pre-packaged apples and oranges are being marketed as the greatest thing since sliced bread, because the neat, easy-to-eat slices make fruits a more viable snack food for kids.