I think that the challenge with getting children to eat 'healthy' is consistent exposure to variety of foods ... as well as not falling for the 'just because they do not eat means they do not LIKE it' for young children meal time in North America is about CONTROL ... their lives are so micromanaged by the adults, so rushed and stressful at times that the one thing they CAN control is what goes into their mouth - as a result they exercise that control by refusing to try new things and so forth. Plus for many children it is about the 'change' of something new looking, smelling or feeling different and them needing to work up the 'courage' to taste it.

Over in other countries children eat way WEIRDER things than we would ever think serve children here in North America .... how many of us would serve Arugula and Blue cheese salad to TWO YEAR OLDS ... but this is a staple in France? How many other countries HAVE infant and toddler foods packaged and sold by manufactures ... not many in most countries outside of the US and Canada the children regardless of age eat what the ADULTS eat ... food is not plainer or 'child friendly' it is whatever adults eat 'cut' to a consistency appropriate for the age of the child.

Our problem is that from the minute we introduce 'food' to children we start with that cereal crap in a box ... that is full of 'filler' has very little TASTE or nutritional value IMO and well is just a SWEET CARB ... most other countries do not introduce GRAINS to their children first they start with VEGETABLES and allow the child's palette to learn to accept those flavors before allowing the 'sweet' taste buds to overpower all others.... as a result we find it hard to get our children to 'accept' vegetables and less sweet fruits into their palettes

I get the odd picky eating in my program who has that 'defiant' I would rather go hungry all day and hold out for the sweet crap at home but for the most part my crew all eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruit and 'spices' because I start introducing those first and make my baby food very similar to how I would make it for MY palette I just puree to a consistency that would suit them

For example if a child has never HAD a diet of steady Kraft Dinner and their macaroni and cheese has always been 'healthy' with a cheese and cauliflower or sweet potato sauce they are not going to complain about it - it is really actually MORE yummy that KD ... and if they HAVE had the steady KD diet and you want to make the change sure they might turn their nose up the first few times but if keep offering the 'new' food as the only alternative they will eventually start to eat it