Poorly nourished children do not learn as well as children who eat plenty of healthful foods. A child's dislike of a food should be respected just as you would an adult's. And while neither rewards nor punishments should ever be used to encourage children to eat foods, they are more likely to accept a new cuisine if they have learned about it before trying it. Make eating an educational time by teaching children about the foods they are consuming. Have young children identify the color, the texture, and the shape.
Older children can attempt to name the food group their meal fits into.
Children's snacks should be attractive and have child appeal. Textures should be chewy, soft, or crisp, not tough. Flavors should be mild, and neither too salty or too spicy. Temperatures should not be too cold or too hot. Serving sizes should fit the child's needs depending upon his or her age and size.