The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-21

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make the food in question actually
abhorent to him-and such preiu-
dices are extremely hard to over
come. Allow sufficient time to
elapse, then, if the food still is
unconsumed, remove the plate. and
TRY, try again" the next meal. Be
sure that the child who refuses to
eat at meal time is not allowed to
piece between meals; and remember
that while children should be served
food which is good for them, they
should eat it because it is good to
eat!
Suggestions for Meals
There are a number Of simple
little suggestions for making the
children's food interesting and at
tractiye so they will want to eat it,
no matter what past performance
has been. The mother who is at
her witss end regarding her chill
drens meals will find some help
here:
Try serving the chiIdrens milk in
bright luSter ware or pottery mugs
instead of the usual cup or glass. A
pretty little milk pitcher placed at
the childS plate, allowing him to
pour his own milk, frequently in
trigues his interest to the point of
getting him to drink far more than
he otherwise would
Straws such as those used in soda
fountains are pleasant innova-
ton. I know of one mother who
got results with the glass lemonade
Slippers with bright colored glass
balls on their ends.
Occasionally it is permissible to
serve the milk mixed with some
fruit juice-orange or cooked rasp-
berry or strawberry. This makes it
look different and taste different,
and while it should not be prac-
ticed too often, it certainly is better
for child to drink his milk mixed
with some harmless fruit juice than
it is for him to neglect it altogether.
LuStard May Tempt Him
A child who absolutely refuses to
drink his milk, due to some preju-
dice or improper training, usually
will take it when it is disguised in
a colored and nodded cuStard,
junket, or cornstarch pudding, or in
a cream sauce served with his yege-
49, ~
Eggs also may be introduced into
the diet in one of the above men
toned simple desserts
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons
contributing to Children's dislike for
vegetables is the fact that the vege-
tables so often are cooked improp-
erly and served poorly. Ask your
self if this is the cause.
Do the vegetables you cook main
tain their bright attractive colorS?
Are they tender. yet not soggy With
overlooking? Are they lastly seas
oned and daintily served?
The simplest ways of serving vege-
tables are the most desirable-a
little melted butter, or q cream
sauce. When I have used the term
cream sauce" understand that ]
mean a white sauce made from milk,
thickening. and light seasoning.
Make Them Fancy
Using fancy vegetable cutters
makes them more attractive and,
for such small quantities, adds little
to the time of preparation. Or, try
cutting the carrots, for instance, in
thin Straw-lihe strips and serving
them with melted butter. Spinach
might be made more palatable for
some children by mixing it with a
little melted butter and few drops
of lemon juice.
Vegetable souff1es are often eaten
where a more plainly prepared vege-
table would go untouched. The
vegetables also may be served in
soup. Sprinkle a few alphabet
noodles in the soup, and propose to
the children that they see how
many words they can spell as they
eat the soup and discover the let
tiers.
Eat your bread and butter first,
YOU say to the children. Try cutting
it in little strips or triangles, or
with a fancy cookie cutter. and see
ii the same amount Of coaXing is
necessary.
Training May Be at Fault
OF course a healthy child should
have a healthy appetite, and resort
ing to all the exigencies should not
be necessary except occasionally to
add interest to food that becomes
monotonous to even adults, who
have wider variety from which to
select.
If the healthy child persists in
food diSlikes. ten to one his train
ing is at fault One should start
correcting this Immediately, but as
it is difficult to undo the harm that
poor training has done, these hints
will tend 10 make the new regime a
little easier.