While it's natural that parents worry about their children's eating habits, putting a child on a very low-fat or low-cholesterol diet may do more harm than good, says a UC Davis Medical Center children's heart disease expert. Parents should allow their kids to be kids, says Dr. Mark Parrish, pediatric cardiologist, and not make the mistake of preventing children from enjoying an occasional ice cream cone. "There are several reports that show that children who went on very low-fat diets fell off the normal growth chart," Parrish says. And there are virtually no circumstances under which a child under 5 years of age should be on a low-fat diet, he says. Still, there is some cause for concern that children still don't eat the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Parrish suggests parents teach good heart health by example. "Don't smoke. Lead an active lifestyle. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Exercise regularly," he says.