Kids Won't Eat Veggies - Try Deconstructed Salad

If your kids are like a lot of others out there, getting vegetables into them can be a challenge. For those of us who have picky eaters, there is hope. Try serving a deconstructed salad with lunches and dinners. You will be surprised at the results.

Before you decide on the salad, find out what types of veggies your kids are open to eating raw. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers (greenhouse or English types have little or no seeds), snap peas, tomatoes, radishes, and celery are all good choices. Children tend to enjoy items that are sweet and crunchy. Next, be sure to serve salads in special bowls. You can find inexpensive salad sets at most major retailers. Do something different from your normal dishes. Wood or brightly colored ceramics work well. Most kids find different textures and colors appealing.

Here is how to assemble your deconstructed salad. In a large salad bowl, cut up 1 head of romaine lettuce. Then in smaller bowls put chopped carrots, sliced cucumbers, whole cherry or grape tomatoes and other assorted vegetables. Arrange them around the larger bowl of lettuce.

Shredded cheese of some sort makes it appealing too. If salad becomes more like a salad bar and less like veggies, your kids may just ask for it more often. The focus is to get them to eat veggies, so only offer low fat shredded cheese or perhaps feta cheese.

Olives can make the salad look great. Choose several different ones like black olives, and Manzanita olives stuffed with pimientos or cheese. Be sure all of the olives are pitted. Pits can be a choking hazard for small children.

For salad dressings, try fat free Catalina, low fat Ranch, low fat Thousand Island, any type of Italian dressing and something like berry vinaigrette. Offer up several different choices. Plain lemon juice is another good choice. Some kids like the taste.

Presentation is everything. Making it look like a big production will interest your kids. Pretty salad plates, bright colorful veggies, and the ability to choose what goes onto their plate scores huge points with picky eaters. They may surprise you and eat more than one helping.

Some children do not like food to touch when it is served. Letting them construct their own salads is empowering them to eat healthy while you control what is served. A little planning goes a long way. Give a deconstructed salad a try. You may be surprised at the results.

To read more articles about parenting and food by this author, click on the links below:

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