I usually give food to Ruthie the same way I plate it for myself: I don't separate it into each component, I use the same, non segmented plates. Sometimes Ruthie picks it apart herself, but most of the time she just digs in. (Oh and then sometimes she says I DON'T LIKE DAT and eats watermelon for dinner 🤷♀️). I'm not sure if there is any benefit to doing it this way, but it is how I've always done it and Ruthie's always been OK with it and also OK with her food touching.