For many kids and parents the school holidays mean day trips, summer camps and outdoor activities. So the kids will still need those lunch boxes and parents will need to fill them! The summer is a great time to try out some healthy salads that kids will enjoy.  And to help get your creative juices flowing, we bring you 10 Healthy Salad Recipes for On the Go Kids…and their parents, to enjoy.

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#1. Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce makes a great alternative to bread and if you use a stronger variety like little gem or iceberg, it will even hold wetter ingredients. So this summer why not add your child’s favourite fillings to lettuce to create a tasty healthy salad sandwich for their lunchbox.

Try out this Asian Pork filling from Bord Bia and The Little Green Spoon.

#2. Caprese Salad

This Caprese Salad recipe combines soft mozzarella with tomatoes and basil to create a tasty salad that both kids and adults will enjoy. This recipe serves 4 and takes 10 minutes to prepare from start to finish!

Ingredients 


• 4 large tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil
• 250g mozzarella cheese, thickly sliced
• Handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
• Freshly ground salt and black pepper to taste

Method  

• Thinly slice the tomatoes and arrange on a platter.
• Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and drizzle over the olive oil.
• Lay slices of cheese over the tomatoes, and then scatter the torn basil over the platter.

For a bit of extra flavour, scatter a few capers over the plate, or why not add some fresh local red currants?

#3. Greek Salad

For this Greek Salad use feta cheese crumbled over the top of tomato, cucumber, and green pepper. The recipe below serves 4 and takes 10 minutes to prepare. I like to add this salad to lettuce for a tasty wrap.

Ingredients

• 4 large vine tomato, cut into wedges
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 red onion, quartered and halved
• Handful of olives
• ½ a green pepper, thinly sliced.
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 75g feta cheese, cut into slabs or crumbled
• 2 tbsp virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl, mix together and lightly season, then serve with some crusty bread. Add some capers for extra flavour.

#4. Thai Beef Salad

This substantial salad has a real taste of the orient. Check out my recipe for Thai Beef Salad over on our healthy snacks that teens can prepare post.. For kids, and adults who don’t like heat, swop out the chillies for bell peppers.

For an alternative Thai Beef Salad recipe check out this one from Nevin Maguire.

#5. Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Watch Nevin McGuire cook butterflied leg of lamb and serve it with a fresh tomato and cucumber salad. And if you have any leftover, it is great the next day too!

#6. Fattoush Salad

This Fattoush Salad combines eggs with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, apple and carrot to make a tasty lunchbox treat. The salad can be made in advance for convenience, and if your kids like seeds, add some toasted seeds to the salad for extra crunch!

#7. Cashew Nut Chicken with Asparagus Salad and Mango Salsa

I love this recipe from Nevin Maguire for cashew nut chicken with a fresh asparagus salad and a sweet mango salsa. Coating the chicken before baking gives it a crispy texture that kids will love and the mango salsa adds a hint of sweetness.

To serve the next day, add the mango salsa to the bottom of the lunchbox and then add your salad and finally your chicken, that way the salsa will not make your chicken soggy!

#8. Cucumber Subs

As a healthy alternative to bread products, why not make cucumber subs by removing the centre of your cucumber and adding your filling to the hollow. Genius!

#9. Organic Salad of Roasted Vegetables, Salad Leaves and Cheese

Roasting vegetables really brings out the flavour in them. This recipe for organic salad of roasted vegetables uses aubergines and red peppers, I also like to add courgettes or squash for sweetness. Feta cheese works well or creamy goats cheese crumbled over the top is a good alternative.

This salad keeps well in the fridge and is great the next day for lunch boxes.

#10. Caesar Salad with Soft Boiled Eggs

The addition of soft boiled eggs and crispy croutons to this Caesar Salad makes all the difference. And ready in just 15 minutes, it makes for an ideal lunch treat for on the go or at home. It certainly gets the thumbs up from my kids. We also love this Nicoise Salad with olives and tuna.

Have you any healthy salad ideas that your kids love? Please share them with us in the comments box below.