Kids are making friends with salad

I don’t like the kids getting older. I still think of them as the 5 and 3-year-olds I first met so many years ago. I struggle to reconcile the man-sized 13-year-old, and almost man-sized 10-year old that rock around the house now. While I struggle to think of the boys getting older, I eagerly embrace the ever-expanding list of foods they will eat and are willing to try.

One meal for all

For many years I would have to make multiple meals which made my weekends busy and annoying. We have finally reached a point that I can make one meal, and every person will eat it. I am sure every parent with fussy children understand how I feel and how much I longed for this day to come. It is so lovely I don’t have words to explain my joy. 

This salad was one of the first recipes that I managed to get everyone not only to eat, but enjoy so much they asked for it again. I know right.

Meets everyone’s needs

It might sound like I have it easy now, but it still isn’t simple to come up with a meal that fits the likes and dislikes of the family. New recipes need to meet fall in the small sweet spot that is in the centre of the family requirements

Jaime

• Doesn’t like cold food unless the food is wet. 
• Loves meat, the more animals in a meal the better.
• Likes vegetables but not too many vegetables. 
• This means salads have to be covered in a dressing or sauce before he will consider eating it and the balance of meat to vegetables has to be even.

Elliot

• Doesn’t want to eat meat, wants to be a vegan (this is a whole blog post in the making). 
• He will eat chicken but doesn’t like it.
• Likes vegetables but not all vegetables.
• Will eat hot or cold food and loves anything that can be smothered in mayo.

Liam

• Loves meat.
• Will eat hot or cold meals.
• Not eats a range of vegetables including broccoli (his favourite), kale, green beans, carrots, onions and lettuce.
• He doesn’t like spicy food or mayo.
• Allergy to nuts.

Cath

• Likes all meat.
• Will eat all vegetables except peas (which are legumes anyway). 
• I don’t care if it is hot or cold.
• I like sauce any spicy food and sauces.
• Allergy to nuts.

As you can see the space to find a meal that works for everyone is small, but I seem to have found a winner in this recipe.

Broccoli chicken salad recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chicken breast, cooked and cubed
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, steamed
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp. sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp. raisins
• 2 rashers bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/3 cup easy mayo
• 1 tbsp. coconut vinegar

Equipment

• Knife
• Chopping board
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.