How do you get your children to eat healthy...

How do you get your children to eat healthy? 

My 5 year old has been a picky eater since he was able to say no. When we first introduced solid foods into his diet, he was a pretty good eater. He had several things he'd eat. His favorites were Peas and Carrots, Corn on the cob, Green Beans, Fruit and Meat. Then, out of nowhere, he quit eating those things. We've tried several different ways to get him to eat better. I put a spoonful of everything we are having on his plate. I try to get him to take one bite. Just one bite. Seems easy enough, right? NO. So I saw, on Pinterest, the idea of using a pair of dice. So that the child is in control of how much they have to eat of each food. I thought this was genius and gave it a try. But it didn't work either. The outcome...vomiting. Yep, he got so worked up about it, he made himself sick. 

His dad and I have decided it's a texture issue, but we can't pin point any one texture. We first thought it was soft food. But he'll eat pasta and rice like it's going out of style. As for meat, he'll eat just about any meat you put in front of him (sometimes I have to tell him it's chicken or steak, but he'll eat it). But as for vegetables...nope. They make him gag. And the only fruit he will eat are Apples, but they have to be peeled. He will not eat the skin, that gags him too. 

I just don't know what to do to help him. But with him starting school in August, he's got to learn to eat better.

Any suggestions or your experiences with this same matter would be greatly appreciated.

On a side note:
I have a 3 year old who will eat anything you put in front of her. :/ Go figure.

Love, Play, Joy       

~Amy