To help ensure that your child eats nutritious foods, help them build a healthy plate at meal time. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends the following: serve brightly-colored vegetables next to something plain, such as rice; serve vegetables or salad as an appetizer before the main course; offer a variety of lean proteins, such as lean beef, poultry, or fish; include whole-grain bread, pasta, or cereal; offer water or low-fat milk with meals instead of sugary beverages; and set a good example by eating healthy yourself.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, December 2016