PRETTY DINNERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

PRETTY DINNERS.

" Look, dear, mother's made you such a pretty dinner." And it certainly was. First, there came a pretty plate with a nicely-scrambled egg, round which were wee piles of mashed potato, alternating with pieces of tender young carrots, cut into diamorid's. Tho dainty second course, served ' in,: 1 . .".fascinating- little coloured bowl, consisted of . stewed prunes, over which pirik custard had been poured, and On the top a little desiccated cocoanat sprinkled. Thus did a wise mother tempt a somewhat dchcate child, with the result that every scrap of the nourishing meal was eaten without a murmur.

A recent article by a psychologist discussed the question of the effect on the appetite of tho appearance of our food. The writer illustrated his argument by the lure of the. colours in tho fruiterer's window, also by the preference of most people for eggs with a brownish shell.' Wo are all most attracted by foods pleasing to the eye, and children particularly so. How their little eyes sparkle at the sight of a pretty cake or a dish of fruit! But many mothers with tho best of intentions fail to provide attractive meals. They say that they want the children to grow up hardy and used to good, plain food. " Eat it or leave it" is their motto. But these mothers must either have been very strong, hearty children, or have very short memories. Children vary in their appetites, just as grown-ups do, and while attractive food tastes best for all of them, for the weakly ones some incentive to eating is really necessary. And it takes very little longer to provide this; just an unusual way of serving vegetables, a little colouring to the puddings, something mysterious to be guessed before eating. Even a fresh, pretty plate, or small tablecloth may make all the difference, and clecide whether the meal will be eaten or only half-eaten.'