422 Nutrition & Wellness for Life Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Creating Meal Plans Appealing, healthy meals do not just happen, they require planning. A meal may supply all the needed nutrients, but if it remains uneaten because it is unap- pealing, the nutrients serve no purpose. Learning to plan a meal that people want to eat and that meets their nutritional needs is not difficult and can be quite rewarding. Involving other family members in the meal planning process, includ- ing children, may create greater interest and enjoyment of the meals served. Appealing Meals A meal should be pleasing to the eye as well as the taste buds. Of course, indi- vidual food preferences must be considered, but other factors are instrumental in the success of a meal. A meal’s appeal is dependent on five factors: flavor, color, texture, temperature, and shape and size. Keep in mind that an individual’s life-cycle stage may influence his or her preference for flavors, textures, or other factors (Figure 17.9). Anatomy of an Appealing Meal Flavor The bitter red cabbage complements the sweet flour tortilla, while the sour lime pairs nicely with the fat from the fried fish. Color Bright red cabbage and tomato contrast with the vibrant green cilantro and avocado against the golden backdrop of the fried fish. Texture Temperature The cool vegetables and chilled sour cream provide a pleasing temperature contrast to the hot fried fish and warm tortilla. Shape & Size The variety of food shapes and sizes—from the oblong fish to the chopped vegetables to the squiggle of sour cream—lend greater visual interest to the plate and invite you to take a bite! The crisp crunch of the red cabbage contrasts with the creamy sour cream and avocado to contribute a variety of textures for the mouth to discover. Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock.com Figure 17.9 A meal is guaranteed to be appealing if certain factors are addressed.