Healthy sides for (fussy-ish) children for BBQs

[WeveGottaGetTherouxThis]

As a family, we love having BBQs, but I always feel like they are lacking nutritionally for the children, who appear to have an aversion to salad 🤦‍♀️ We have the typical meat / fish, a side of cous cous or similar, and then the children will usually have a corn on the cob with cucumber slices. It feels a bit boring and not overly nutritious.

Does anyone have any suggestions of things they serve their children at BBQs? They don’t like peppers. DD (6) would eat baby spinach / Caesar salad, but DS (5) can be very fussy!

[phyllidia]

Coleslaw

[DippyAvocado]

I was about to suggest corn on the cob and cucumber! The only things my fussy DD would eat. It's too types of vegetable so pretty good for a fussy eater. She will also eat some crudités like pepper or carrot sticks if something like that could work?

[DippyAvocado]

Oops,sorry just saw they won't eat peppers.

[TeddyIsaHe]

Watermelon and feta salad
BBQ’d sweet potatoes
Homemade slaw with a vinegrette dressing instead of mayo
Stick green veg they like (asparagus, broccoli, baby leeks, cauliflower? Etc) on the BBQ.
Tomato salads.

This is all stuff Dd will eat, or at least entertain a taste of.

[DippyAvocado]

And should say two not too.

[WeveGottaGetTherouxThis]

Thank you, everyone. Great ideas! I never thought to do a homemade coleslaw with a vinaigrette rather than mayo - I’d definitely prefer that too.

I absolutely don’t mind them having corn on the cob & cucumbers, it’s only when we have a run of lovely weather and they have it day after day.

[TankGirl97]

Coleslaw with a yoghurt and lemon dressing is nice. Sweet potato chips, asparagus on the barbecue, courgette cut into fingers and barbequed has been successful too.
We also often default to corn on the cob and cucumber slices too.

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Skewers of roasted veg and halloumi (mushrooms, red onion, cherry tomato).
Greek salad - sliced tomatoes, feta, black olives, red onions, oil, vinegar, dried oregano.
Tabbouleh - lots of cucumber, spring onion, herbs and lemon juice.
DS's salad which consists of chopped up red pepper, cucumber, spring onion with a spoonful of mint sauce stirred through
Grated carrot, apple and cheddar coleslaw (no dressing, the apple makes enough juice.
Watermelon, feta and mint.

We also sometimes make dips, hummus, tzatziki (lots of cucumber) and baba ganoush (from roasted aubergine).

[Crosswordocelot]

Mine are much older and I'm laughing at the thought of them eating anything PP have suggested. They dont even eat corn on the cob! We do bbq beans (which involves adding some ingredients- not sure what- DH does it) to a tin of beans and cooking on the bbq. One eats carrot sticks, one eats cucumber.
ExpletiveDelighted loving the sound of your suggestions, but if my kids are all (or any) of those, then they wouldnt be described as fussy!

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Crossword - mine are older too and are actually very fussy, they don't both eat all of these but will try them. One eats these but won't touch a potato or sausage. The other prefers plainer stuff but will pick at these. We do serve cucumber and pepper sticks too. Anything left goes for my packed lunches.

[okaycokay]

My kids are much older and wouldn't touch any of those sides including corn on the cob and carrot sticks! Most I can hope for is chips with their burgers or chicken wings
I just resign ourselves to bbq not being that healthy! And try to make up on other days

[Crosswordocelot]

okaycokay
I think we might share the same fussy children!😂

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I’ve had recent success with homemade dips. I’ve done a beetroot and horseradish and roasted carrot one. Both blended until smooth. Then they can dip their crudités in another veg.

[Shannith]

Oh some good ideas. DD seems allergic to green but grated apple, carrot and cheese is a great idea!

[bookmum08]

I like courgette slices cooked on the bbq or mushrooms (although they do shrivel up a bit). Tried some bbq -ed aubergine slices too. Personally I didn't like them. I also like bbq -ed peppers but you said your kids don't like them.
For salady stuff I like cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, cucumber. My mother in law always does a load of hard boiled eggs when we have a bbq (blurrgh).
Oh man. Now I want a bbq.

[LesLavandes]

Cherry Tomatoes