Kid-Friendly Chopped Salad with Sweet Strawberry Dressing

Salad can be tricky for most kids to enjoy. For one, we don’t often serve kids salad and two, lots of greens can have a slightly bitter taste. Here are some things I’ve found that help my kids eat and enjoy salad greens:

1. Chop everything very small so it’s less intimidating for kids to eat.
   
2. Add fruit. Seeing pieces of their favorite fruit makes the salad feel more exciting.
   
3. A yummy dressing. Figure out what kind of dressing your child enjoys by trying a few different kinds.
   
4. Try a different presentation. Separate parts of the salad into bowls then let your child add them to a plate or bowl. You can also try serving the dressing on the side to dip pieces of lettuce into.

Keep experimenting with new ways to eat lettuce and exposing those kiddos to let them make friends with the crunchy greens!

For this easy, colorful salad, you can really use whatever fresh veggies your family enjoys. Mix up the types of lettuce you use and try out different toppings as well. I really love to make this salad a more complete meal by adding some crumbled feta or goat cheese and some sliced almonds. You could also add some cooked chicken or shrimp too. The dressing is so simple and sweet. Plus, the pink color makes it so fun for kids

Kid-Friendly Chopped Salad with Sweet Strawberry Dressing

INGREDIENTS
Salad

• 1 head of Romaine or Bibb lettuce (or a combo of both)
  
• 1/2 large cucumber
  
• 1 cup sugar snap peas
  
• 1/2 avocado
  
• 1/2 pound strawberries

Dressing

• 6 to 7 large strawberries
  
• 1 tablespoon honey
  
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  
• Pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Chop or rip lettuce into small pieces and add to a bowl. Chop cucumber, snap peas, avocado, and strawberries. Everything should be small enough to fit onto a child-size spoon or fork. Add on top of the lettuce or keep toppings separated into different piles on a cutting board or plate.
   
2. To make dressing, add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth. Dip a piece of lettuce into the dressing and taste for seasoning. Adjust with more honey/vinegar/salt as needed.
   
3. Serve by either tossing the salad components with the dressing or serve the dressing on the side as a dip. Enjoy salad immediately. Dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 6 and 4, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.