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variety is sometimes the biggest factor in determining whether a meal will be a success or not. There are several ways of adding variety to meals.

Here are some pointers toward that end:

1. Don’t repeat the same kind of food in one meal.
2. Try to avoid using only one type of foodstuff in one meal: A menu consisting of rice, macaroni salad, potatoes and cookies is bad because all of these foods are rich in carbohydrtaes.
3. Avoid serving more than one strong-flavored food in one meal. To many bland foods taken together are unappetizing.
4. Combine flavors. A contrast in flavors is always good and certainly add to the variety of the menu. Try using bland foods to compliment tangy ones, sweet foods to contrast sour.
5. Use sauces and relishes to add to a flavor of a dish, but do not mask its original flavor. Just the right amount of catsup can do wonders for a meat loaf, but too much catsup can drown it.
6. Be particular about serving-temperatures. If the soup is meant to be hot, serve it HOT, and if ice cream is on the menu, serve it COLD. Nothing is more unappetizing than lukewarm soup or runny ice cream.
7. Provide attractive color combinations. A meal of mashed potatoes, Spanish rice, and cauliflower is monotonous in appearance. Try using complimentary colors such as red, green, yellow and white. Color can also be added by using garnishes such as red and green pepper rings, celery or peanuts.
8. Contrast textures and inconsistency. Don’t serve a meal consisting of arroz caldo, creamed chopped gluten, mashed potatoes and pudding. Try to have something chewy like gluten steaks, something soft such as mashed squash, and something hard like peanut brittle.
9. Vary shapes of food. Try to have a variety of shapes - round, square, etc- on the plates. It would be rather odd to serve whole kernel corn, baked beans, and rice all at the same time.
10. Plan your menus according to the season. Piping hot soup will not be welcomed if served on a hot night in April, but would be a nice addition to a meal in December. Likewise, cold frosty pineapple juice is not very amusing early on Christmas day.

The likes and dislikes of each family member should be carefully considered when you plan your menus. With so many foods to choose from, it would be easy to please everyone.