Kid Friendly Salads

Now that I have a toddler, I can’t just whip up a salad and call it dinner.  Crunchy raw veggies aren’t exactly baby-friendly, considering their limited number of teeth.  But sometimes I don’t have time for anything more complex than salad, let alone time to make two separate dinners.  And like many busy parents, I often haven’t planned ahead enough to have a variety of other appropriate foods on-hand.

So here’s how I improvise, in a way that allows Lucy to eat what we’re eating:

I make a “toddler salad,” which includes the soft components of our meal cut up into baby bite-sized pieces.  It’s low maintenance, healthy, and I like that she sees the same foods on her own plate that are also on ours.

Since plain veggies are not always super appealing, I make sure she has some dip or dressing on the side for veggie-dunking.

And voila, dinner is served.

Of course, she doesn’t always gobble down every veggie on her plate.  But she does try – and like – at least a few veggies each time we eat like this.

And even for older kids, this method may work.  As long as you provide a few items you already know your kids like, and offer a few different dip options, you’re likely to have a successful meal.