By Merrill Balassone of the Modesto Bee

Last updated: December 23, 2007 01:41:03 AM

KEYES -- Martha Rios' potluck standby of pasta salad was officially extinct.

The mother of three made a new dish to bring to her nutrition class graduation last week -- a bed of lettuce with piles of strawberries, carrots and nuts mixed with an orange juice vinaigrette.

Rios said her new recipe has given her hamburger- and pizza-loving toddlers a taste for fruit and veggies.

"They said there's no way vegetables and fruit can taste good together, but they liked it," Rios said in Spanish.

Twenty-four parents celebrated the end of their education in all things low-fat, whole wheat and vitamin-enriched with a spread that included green beans, yogurt and fresh salsas. The 10-week "Healthy Families" program included a cooking demonstration each week at Keyes Elementary School for parents with children younger than 6 years old, funded by the Stanislaus County Children and Families Commission.

The county Health Services Agency gave parents health facts to make gradual lifestyle changes, such as reading food labels and switching from whole milk to low-fat.

"I'm asking them for a favor, to share this information with their neighbors and families," said Luis Molina, a school readiness coordinator. "This is where we're going to make some changes."

A Stanislaus County health report warned in April that today's preschoolers could become the first generation in history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

That's because of high rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Program graduate Blanca Padilla already has seen the results of making small changes in her family's diet. She's lost 10 pounds over the 10-week course by replacing her favorite corn tortillas with lettuce cups to hold taco meat. Padilla said she was shocked to learn that a Double Big Gulp-sized soda packs 800 calories, more than the average meal.

"It's not a 100 percent change, but it's the small steps that make the difference," Padilla said. "I'm trying to change my way of eating with my fam-ily."

Blanca Ruiz found fitness and stress-relief benefits from a new running regimen.

With five children -- ranging in age from 3 months to 8 years -- the hour Ruiz spends working out each day is precious time she can have for herself. But as a mom with young children, the exercise doesn't end there.

"I'm always running after them, too," Ruiz said.

Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.