I cannot recall where I saw this idea, but somewhere on the internet an ingenious mother suggested putting small, appetizing, varied items in an ice cube tray for toddlers. Danielle usually does not like to sit down for a meal, but she will snack on this all day. The fruit juice gummy bears and Smart Puffs were the first thing to go from this arrangement, but she will get to the carrots by lunch time.
Another thing I like to do to get some healthy food into the younger ones is to make a "sample platter" for them while I am cooking. This usually consists of every vegetable that happens to be going into the pot--snippets of celery, a few broccoli flowers, a mushroom cap, even a bit of onion and parsley. If I call it a "sample platter," they will eat it all every time.
