The term "super foods" is everywhere these days. While the list of so-called super foods varies depending on who you talk to and grows every day through new research, they all make for healthy eating.

Some foods considered to be super foods include blueberries, almonds, broccoli, salmon, avocado, sweet potatoes, soy beans (edamame, tofu), lentils, kale, beans, barley and yogurt. So what exactly is a super food and how can it be made baby- and toddler-friendly?

"The idea of an extraordinary food product relates to the amount of 'bang for its buck' concept of being a nutrient-dense food rather than an energy-dense food," says Jennifer Stokel, a registered dietitian with the Nova Medical Group in Ashburn, Va. "Nutrient-dense foods are full of antioxidants, micronutrients (think vitamins and minerals), fiber and healthy doses of macronutrients (the fats, carbs and proteins). Energy-dense foods are merely packed with calories, either from fat (the most dense of the macronutrients) or disproportioned carbs and protein sources."

Since babies and toddlers can be fussy eaters, packing as much nutrition as possible into what they eat is very important. Their small size also plays a factor in the importance of good nutritional food choices. "Toddlers, whose stomachs are still developing and [are] not able to hold a huge amount of food, need nutrient-dense foods to nourish them for adequate growth and development patterns," Stokel says.

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