Pasta salady (or couscous/rice?) type things that one to four year olds will eat?

[Bubble99]

We've done the usual tuna/peppers/sweetcorn thing.

Need to be salads rather than hot.

Any ideas?

Pesto?
pasta with sausages? (or are they a big no no )
Tomatoes and basil?
Cheese?

My mum always put peppers, mardarins, raisins into rice

I know a nice potato with sausage & mustard some children like

You prob do the carrot orange & raisin one anyway

delia's pesto rice salad very much a winner round here with dd and friends (of all ages).

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/pesto-rice-salad,1306,RC.html

You can always cheat and use a jar for a quick option (obviously better doing it from scratch but sometimes needs must !)

Needs to be nut-free (nursery kitchen.) Sorry should have said.

When is a nut not a nut? I know coconut is OK as it is a seed rather than a nut.

Are pine nuts OK? Would make life a lot easier if they were..

pine nut definitely a seed not a nut - I looked it up when dd was v. small on the food standards agency website

although this suggests best to avoid www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/healthissues/foodintolerance/#A220766.

Could still do pesto without pine nuts though.

Thanks for that, Wheely.

It will be useful to be able to use pesto.

Posts X.

Pesto with or without pine nuts should work?

yes I reckon pesto without pinenuts would be fine.

Try using fruit instead of veg, then start sneaking the veg in gradually.

Have you tried quinoa?
My kids like that.
With a sort of middle Eastern lamb and apricot stew is good.
Or chickpea stew
Maybe meatballs?
Also pasta,creme fraiche and salmon

You wouldn't serve those cold though would you moondog? Bubble needs cold stuff.

I used to do a slimming world recipe with grapes and raspberry vinegar and some other fruit or other. I could try and find the recipe tomorrow if you like the sound of it?

Oh yes,remember now.
Actually my kids like the salmon and creme fraich thing cold.
Quinoa also good in a salad.

Thanks, all.

CSWS. I'd be interested if you can find the recipe.

MD. They do well with quinoa, though only hot, so far.

Salmon and creme fraiche sounds like a likely hit, too.

Mackeral good flaked in a salad.
Personally am inclined to think that big chunks of veggies and wodges of pasta are overwhelming for little kids.

Mine love kofte and falafel at room temp. too.

Ok, have dug it out in case I forget tomorrow!

250g dried pasta shapes
3tbs red wine vinegar (sure we used raspberry vinegar instead)
1tsp eng mustard powder (I prob left this out - yuk!)
1 tsp artificial sweetener (well it is a SW book - just use sugar for kids!)
salt + Pepper
150g red seedless grapes
150g green seedless grapes
2 oranges
large bunch of chives, finely snipped

Cook pasta, drain, set aside (we used those really twirly curly shapes, which would be easy for a 1yr old grip).
Mix vinegar, mustard, sugar, seasoning and mix well. Pour over pasta and toss well to coat.
Halve grapes and cut oranges into segments and add to pasta mix. Sprinkle over chopped chives and toss.

Voila .

mackerel

Now you've reminded me of that annoying puzzle, where you have to name 3 countries that don't contain any of the letters in the word mackerel!

Far out....

why not just do the pasta very plain the a bit of dressing or mayo then have little bowels of various diffrent fruit, veg, tuna, cheese, rasins whatever and let them make thier own individual pasta salads..? then it makes it fun as well as healthy... my ds absoloutly loves to help with anything in the kitchen, as long as he gets to make his own pizza (put what toppings he wants on) then he is a very happy camper.