Come summer and you’ll find that a common complaint among parents is that their kids just aren’t interested in eating anything. You can’t blame them either; with the soaring temperatures, kids just want to drink something and be left alone! But of course, we still need to make sure they get the required daily amounts of everything, along with being adequately hydrated. At the same time, we don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, slogging in the heat! There’s just one answer to solve all these problems – salads! They’re hydrating, filling, packed with nutrients and can be put together in next to no time! So here are 10 super nutritious summer salads for kids that taste as good as they look!
10 Refreshing Summer Salads for Kids
1. Watermelon Heart Salad
There’s nothing all that new about heart shaped foods, but you have to admit that heart-cut watermelon and strawberries look oh-so-pretty! This juicy salad from A Designer Life looks like the perfect antidote to a hot, sweaty day outside.
2. Cucumber and Apple Spiralized Salad
If a noodle salad sounds a tad heavy for dinner on a hot day, this cucumber and apple ‘noodle’ salad from Feeding Finn should be light enough. If you have a spiralizer, you can get nice smooth strands, but if you don’t you can still try a julienne peeler for a salad that’s just as yummy.
3. Pizza Pasta Salad
Is there any kid out there who doesn’t like pizza? Yes, we didn’t think so! Entice your pizza lover to eat something healthy with this pizza pasta salad from Weary Chef – tastes just like pizza, but with more wholesome ingredients! No more excuses now!
4. Sunshine Salad
Loaded with pineapples, oranges, strawberries and bananas, it’s no wonder this salad is called the Sunshine Salad! Featured on Julie’s Eats & Treats, this salad has an explosion of flavors and is perfect for a summer afternoon! Bonus – it’s as bright as the sun, so it’s sure to catch any kid’s eye!
5. Cabbage, Pear and Carrot Salad
When your kids aren’t into strong flavors and would prefer something crunchier, this simple salad from Kitchen Corners is your answer. Made with easily available ingredients, all you need is a peeler to get juliennes from it. The almond slivers add an extra crunch to the already crunchy carrot and pear, making it even more fun to eat!
6. Rainbow Chicken Salad
Just because it’s a salad doesn’t mean that your kids have to miss out on protein! Super Healthy Kids has a lovely rainbow chicken salad that looks absolutely gorgeous! And as they say, you should ensure a rainbow on your plate for maximum nutrition!
7. Japanese Potato Salad
Nearly every family has its favorite potato salad recipe, and if you haven’t got one yet, this one from Food 4 Tots might just be it! The best part is that it’s quite custom-izable and you can add anything you like to make it your kids’ favorite, like tuna or chicken.
8. Melon Flower Salad
If you’re having a summer party for your kids, this is one must have dish that we’d recommend! One Crafty Thing shows us how easy it is to create a lovely little flower salad with melons, a melon baller and a cookie cutter. You can also substitute blackberries with black grapes to keep everything spherical.
9. Bull and Cows Egg Salad
Do you look at all that beautiful food art made by Moms on the internet and drop your jaw in awe? If you thought that it was too difficult, Culinary Exclusive has a simple farm themed egg salad for you to try. All you need are boiled eggs, tomatoes, black olives and assorted greens. Some basic knife skills and you’re done!
10. Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cones
Okay, this salad is almost dessert! My Fussy Eater gives us a fun recipe for kids featuring luscious berries stuffed into chocolate dipped waffle cones. To make it extra decadent or for a party, you can also drizzle some soft vanilla ice cream on top.
The best part about salads is that you don’t need to follow the recipe to the ‘T’. You can feel free to leave out a couple of ingredients, add some more ore just substitute with whatever’s readily available. With Earth Day coming up, this is a great way to use up an extra fruit or vegetable that’s been lying around. What’s more, most salads require very little prep work, making it a great way to introduce kids to cooking. After this summer, your kids will have become salad lovers and you’ll be one happy Mom!
Great ideas for the kids, thanks for including my cucumber and apple salad in your round up 🙂
What a great list of hot weather salads that are healthy too!! I am always looking for great meal and snack ideas that are healthy for the kids. Sharing with my followers. Thanks so much for sharing on Inspire Me Monday. I hope you have a wonderful week!!
Thanks for joining our Delicious Dishes Recipe Party this week! Hope to see you again next Tuesday!
These are perfect for summer, and my kids would love them! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
I just got a spiralizer and want to try the cucumber apple recipe. Thanks for including my pizza pasta salad!