Kids Salads That Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
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Updated on 01/9/20
Young girl eating salad
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Salads are a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables. If you just say the word "salad," kids may not always find them appealing. But, there are some easy ideas to get kids to eat salad and actually enjoy it. Of course, use what works best for your kid or the kid in your life.

  1. Make salads that are simple. Too many ingredients are overwhelming to kids. A good rule of thumb: The younger the kids, the fewer ingredients to use.
  2. Use ingredients that kids are familiar with, like cheese, croutons, and everyday vegetables.
  3. Make a home salad bar. Cut fruits and vegetables into small pieces, put them in bowls, and let the kids choose what they like. This makes it easy to add vegetables adults like without forcing the kids to eat them.
  4. Eat as a family or with the kids. If kids are eating alone, they are less likely to enjoy the experience. If you all eat the same salad, then it's a family event and much more enjoyable.

Green Salads

There's no need to shy away from green salads when serving kids. Try these:

  •  Wedge salad: This visually appealing salad can be made without the blue cheese dressing. Or put it on the side and let your pintsize table mate try dipping the lettuce into the dressing.
  • Seven-layer salad: Iceberg lettuce is topped with celery, peas, onions, peppers, and bacon for this easy green salad.
  • Simple salad: Let your kid pick their three favorite vegetables. Mix them together and you have a salad.

Vegetable Salads

Besides green salads, making vegetable-heavy salads for, and with, kids is a great idea. Here are some ideas:

  • Carrot salad: Carrots, mayonnaise, and raisins are combined in this sweet, kid-friendly vegetable salad recipe.
  • Broccoli salad: Raisins and sunflower seeds are tossed in a tangy, sweet creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
  • Cabbage salad: Crunchy shredded cabbage gets jazzed up with bacon and other colorful vegetables, like shredded carrots, chopped cucumbers, and diced red, green, or orange bell pepper.

Pasta Salads

While not always loaded with veggies, pasta salad is a great way to add vegetables to a safe and familiar comfort food:

  • Tuna macaroni salad: Tuna pasta salad makes a wonderful school lunch for the kids. Try it with chickpeas and black olives for a fun flavor twist.
  • Tortellini pasta salad: This is a snap to make with fresh pasta, chopped vegetables, and a simple semi-homemade salad dressing.
  • Chicken and bacon pasta salad: This gets a burst of flavor from the smoky bacon, along with diced tomatoes, celery, and onion. Feel free to add more vegetables or switch up the protein.

Fruit Salad

An easy fresh fruit salad is good enough for dessert or an anytime treat. You can customize the salad with your favorite fruits or make it with fresh local or seasonal fruit.

Potato Salad

Like pasta salad, potato salads are a great way to add veggies to a tried and true favorite:

 

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