Raising a healthy child can be challenging. How can we get our children to enjoy healthy foods? How can we introduce a variety of foods and teach balanced meals? When a child avoids vegetables or seems to eat practically nothing, what's a parent to do?

One of the most effective ways to improve children's eating habits is to get them interested in food. That may sound like an oversimplification, but it's true. Food has appeal on many levels, besides flavor. Not only does food come in an incredible variety of colors and textures, it can be combined in ways that are interesting, attractive, and even humorous.

"Don't play with your food!" was the admonishment many of us heard when we were young. Well, playing with food is not such a bad idea. If children have the opportunity to experience food in a variety of ways, they will develop an interest that can lead to a lifetime of healthy eating. First of all, food goes through magical changes when prepared, cooked, and served. Fresh, raw ingredients can be transformed into beautiful, tasty meals that are fun to eat. If a child can take part in that process, the meal becomes his or her "creation" and an irresistible dish. And, the process itself can be lots of fun!