As often as possible, food should be served at the table in ways that allow children to help themselves and decide how much they will eat. Making serving platters, bowls and utensils available and accessible encourages children to serve themselves. This helps them develop coordination, as well as skills such as pouring, serving and passing.
If two courses are offered at a meal, both should be nutritious and based on foods from the basic food groups. Children should be allowed to eat the second course regardless of whether they finish the first course.A child who refuses to eat should not be forced to do so.
When children bring their own meal or snack, they can decide how much they will eat. Any uneaten food should be sent home in the lunchbox.