Salad Suppers

Getting kids to eat their veggies isn’t always smooth sailing. When chicken nuggets and pizza are on their minds, salad is not even a blip on their radar.

Change up what salad can be by making it kid-friendly, flavorful, and something to look forward to. With tasty add-ins and different combinations, your kids will crave salad as much as they do snack time.

Here are two salads that are kid- and parent-approved, full of nutritious ingredients that kids need for their growing bodies. They will love the tastes and textures and asking for seconds is never a second thought. Each recipe makes two generous servings.

Fruity Fun

Who says salad has to be 100% veggies? Adding fruit into the mix makes a salad more appealing to kids. This “Fruity Fun” salad is colorful and delicious.

Ingredients:

2 cups mixed greens lettuce

½ medium cucumber, sliced thinly

½ cup grape (or cherry) tomatoes, sliced in half

1 medium carrot, diced or shredded

½ cup red or green grapes, sliced in half

1 apple (any variety), cored and diced

½ cup blueberries

½ cup raspberries

½ cup chopped walnuts (or another favorite nut)

¼ cup raisins (or dried cranberries)

¼ cup shelled sunflower seeds (or pumpkin seeds)

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This salad tastes great with a honey mustard dressing, lemon poppyseed, or a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Mix the dressing in or serve on the side. Add some additional protein if desired – diced grilled chicken, tofu cubes, or canned tuna.

Nice and Spicy

Kids who love “Taco Tuesday” and anything on the menu at Taco Bell will love this fresh and healthy salad. Their favorite flavors are combined by you, so you know what they’re eating and that it’s good for them too.

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

½ cup diced beefsteak tomato

1 medium green (or red) bell pepper, diced

1 small red onion, diced

1 avocado, sliced

½ cup black beans (canned)

½ cup corn (canned)

½ cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream

½ cup mild salsa (get a hotter variety if you prefer)

Combine all ingredients except the avocado and sour cream. Serve the salad with sliced avocado on top followed by a dollop of sour cream. You can offer soft tortillas on the side to make salad wraps if desired. This salad also tastes great with diced grilled chicken or sliced steak.

What types of salads do your kids like?

For more information like this, please visit All My Children’s blogs.

By: Melissa A. Kay