My kids like salad. Do yours?

“Can I please have some more salad?”

What parent doesn’t want their children to like (and eat) salads. But getting kids on the salad kick isn’t always easy. Like all things related to food acceptance in little ones, it takes time and exposure.

But what if there was a way to make salads so irresistible that they’d HAVE to take a bite. And then they’d get hooked! 

Salad for many kids (and many adults) means iceberg lettuce, tomato, cucumber and bottled dressing. How many times, when eating out, have we been faced with a plate of unappetizing greens, a wedge of tomato, a pile of onion and a vinegary dressing, all under the guise of salad? It is enough to turn anyone’s palate away from the thought of greens.

The thing to remember about salad is that it can be awful and it can be wonderful. If kids get to know the awful version, they’ll probably refuse to eat it. On the other hand, if they get to taste the wonderful version, they’ll gobble it up and ask for seconds! If we can think of salad as a wonderful array of flavours and textures instead of a little bit of green next to something else it opens up a whole world of 
potential easy meals.

Strawberry Surprise:

I think fruit in salads make them less intimidating to young children. 

Greek Salad:

Feta cheese is the best!

INGREDIENTS | SERVES 4

• 1 medium bunch of romaine lettuce leaves, cleaned well
• 1 (14-ounce) can pitted black olives
• 1 pound crumbled low-fat feta cheese
• 1 large tomato, cut in small chunks
• 1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced in quarters
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Oregano and pepper to taste

Scrumptious Blueberry Salad:

Ingredients: 

-9 cups mixed greens

-1 cup fresh or thawed blueberries

-2 TBS sunflower kernels 

Dressing-4 TBS Canola Oil

-2 TBS Sugar

-3 TBS cider vinegar

-1 TBS Orange juice

-1/2 tsp ground mustard

-1/4 tsp salt

Chicken Caesar Salad:

Ingredients: (Makes 6 Servings)

-1 – 1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or meatless chicken strips or patties

-4 – 5 TBS. olive oil

-1/4 tsp. salt

-1/8 tsp. garlic powder

-2 large slices sourdough bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, or buy packaged croutons

-1/4 tsp. kosher salt

-2 TBS. reduced fat mayonnaise

-1/2 tsp. minced garlic (about 1 clove)

-1/2 lemon, juice only, 2 Tbsp. juice

-1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

-1/2 tsp. anchovy paste, or use mashed capers

-1 head romaine lettuce, washed, dried and cut or ripped into bite-sized pieces (8 – 10 cups)

-1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Kid-Friendly cucumber Salad:

Ingredients:

-1 (or more cucumber)

-3 TBS. rice wine vinegar

-1 TBS. vegetable oil (optional)

- a few drops sesame oil

-2 tsp table sugar (can adjust all ingredients to taste…)