Is there any inspiring way to get small boys to eat salad?

[Pruners]

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How about cutting up some peppers and cucumber as a start and have with humous etc and cut up some warm pitta bread - so it does not look like you are just making them eat the salad.

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Or what about doing wraps?

Spread the warmed wrap with a little hoisin sauce, put on some shredded chicken, top with shredded cucumber and lettuce?

My boys adore these, but then they love salad just on its own.

I think if they are not used to/not keen on, little and often with other things is the key.

hah! i totally know what you mean. dd hates lettuce, pretty much always has. and in the warmer weather it's all i want to eat. we just do peas or edamame [ponce] in the micro for her, figuring that she does have a right not to like it...

Oh and what about growing your own and letting them pick it? Works a treat. DS1 has always eaten salad but was fussy on his veg but because we now grow it - will eat it.

We grow lots in our flower beds and the dcs are free to nibble whatever they want. So far they particularly like tomatoes, chives, spring onions, rocket and (their absolute favourite) nasturtiums (flowers, leaves, the lot). Of course if I put most of this on their plates, they won't touch it and there are large amounts of vegetables that I could grow by the ton and it would make no difference.

Second the growing idea: we've been growing some in pots and DS1 loves the idea - in fact he picks and eats it himself while still in the garden.

You can buy seed packets of mixed baby leaves which are tasty and either start them off in a seed tray on the windowsill (if doing it in spring) or now you could just plant the seeds outside.

Take a few weeks to come up and then just snip with scissors leaving bottom pair of leaves on, and that way they grow back again for more...

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Lots of different dips could work and put all the salad into seperate dishes so that they can pick what they want and dip into the sauces.

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edamame

we just call em soy beans in our house [unponce]

They are excellent though and very tasty and now you can buy them frozen.

I suppose I am lucky with my two as they eat anything.

We went out for a meal on Sat eve - DS1 (11) had tempura king prawns with chilli dipping sauce for a starter and then large haddock, chips and wait for it - salad.

DS2 (8) had carpaccio (sp) of beef to start and then queenie scallops in garlic butter with cheese for main.

i get the ones in their pods, Wilf... [ultra-ponce]

That'll be because you live in food civilization Aitch, and I live in, er, Stoke.

On Trent. Not Newington. That's for those of you who read that and thought 'lazy cow, can't she just get a bus to Waitrose...?'

all you need is a weeny-wee chinese community, Wilf, and you're away, oh how i love the chinese supermarkets...

grated carrot and cucumber and cherry tomatoes and lettuce on the table before the main course

just put in the middle with bowls for the kids and leave them to it while getting the main course ready

I do this most days and you'd be surprised how much of it they eat

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yellow pepper and celery also popular

Tomatoes are the spawn of the devil for my kids. I long to persuade them but them won't go within 2 metres, even grown at home.

Aitch, me too on the Chinese supermarkets. We do go mad when we're in Manchester. Although I'm boycotting them a bit since I bought some white rabbit toffees and then immediately had to pay 200 quid to my dentist for a crown replacement.

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I offer stuff even if I know they wont eat it [dogged]

We have been getting a small cos lettuce, separating it into leaves, washing them and then standing them upright in a jug or bowl on the table so they can eat them with their fingers. Ds and DD wolf that down (they are 6 and 4). It's good to put out while you are getting the rest of the meal ready.