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Greg Oliver/Staff Ellie Taylor, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, displays “Feeding the Kids” — the book she co-authored with daughter Pamela Gould that examines healthy food choices in an informative, yet humorous, manner.

SENECA — Ellie Taylor, of Seneca, and her daughter Pamela Gould, of Colorado, are miles apart in distance. But that didn’t stop the pair from collaborating on a book designed to stress the importance of nutrition in a humorous, easy-to-understand manner.

“Feeding the Kids,” written by parents for parents, consists of 243 pages filled with do-able solutions for getting children and even families to eat healthier foods that they will enjoy.

Taylor said Gould, a mother of two, wanted to expand her own family flip chart in order to share with others interested in healthier eating. The mother and daughter then began working on the concept, but the information they amassed was so enormous, the decision was made to eventually write a book.

“It took two years of research and waiting to get it into print,” Taylor said. “We wrote the book 2,000 miles apart.”

The main emphasis of the book, Taylor added, was to present nutrition in a way that “was non-intimidating, non-medical, but just fun.”

“We didn’t want this to be boring,” she said. “Our thesis was that most parents know they need to be feeding their children a healthy diet, but knowing and doing something are two different things. We needed to fill that gap.”

Taylor and Gould wanted the public to understand that eating can be fun and delicious, yet nutritious, at the same time. The pair enlisted Katherine Cason, a Clemson University dietician, to provide expertise to their efforts.

During research for the book, Taylor said it wasn’t difficult to discover nutrition information directed toward schools and companies. But nutritional information for parents was a different matter indeed — even though Taylor feels that is an area where children learn to eat and gain an appreciation for food.

“It starts in the home,” Taylor said.

The book offers precise, easy-to-learn methods to assist parents in selecting the healthiest versions of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and protein foods. Parents are informed as to how to select healthy fats, avoid “stealthy” foods disguised as healthy foods and how to get back on track when the family has a junk food day (or week).

For parents who don’t have time to cook, the book includes 50 mini-recipes and menus designed for parents who need to get healthy food on the table, or in the lunchbox, and fast.

Taylor and Gould have labeled foods in the following categories: “Smart,” or very nutritious; “Empty,” containing calories or items that will not benefit the body; and “In Between,” mixing an empty food with something smart. By using those food languages, they hope children will become better able to identify and select more nutritious foods.

Parents receive tips as to the types of foods they can offer children to enhance healthier eating. For example, Taylor said mixing vegetables with dipping sauce is popular because “children like to dip,” and that Beef Stew is also popular because it combines meat and vegetables.

Taylor also suggests that parents take their children to fruit and vegetable stands to educate them in the food selection process. She emphasizes that parents should not force their children to eat vegetables they don’t like.

The book even discusses eating out at restaurants — a popular part of today’s culture. Taylor said more and more restaurants now understand the need to include fruits and vegetables in their menu selections, providing more options for parents and children.

“We address how to evaluate and order food in a restaurant,” Taylor said.

While nutrition is becoming more important in today’s society, Taylor admits that pitfalls await many families during the Christmas holidays. But Taylor adds that eating desserts is less harmful if done in moderation.

“If you’re going to have a lot of empty food and a lot of desserts to enjoy, you should limit it to one a day or so,” she said. “You should think about how you’re going to impart smart foods into your daily plans.”

Taylor said parents should examine their lifestyle, family history, age and whether they are already eating smart foods with assistance from a six-week plan included in the book. She also encourages children to drink water and non-fat milk, rather than soda.

Additional information on “Feeding the Kids,” as well as other nutritional tips, can be obtained on an interactive Web site (www.feedingthekids.com) that is continually updated by Taylor and Gould.