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Your child might be hesitant to eat a healthy meal, but making visually attractive recipes with their favorite fruits will certainly encourage them to eat. Fun fruit salad recipes for kids can be a perfect way to get children to eat seasonal fruits, gain their benefits, and have fun while eating (1). Fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. They help improve children’s immunity, promote healthy growth, and help maintain their energy levels through natural sugars. Thus, fruit salads are a great way to add fruits to a child’s diet and improve their health.
In this post, we have compiled a selection of easy, nutritious fruit salad recipes for your children to enjoy.
Key Pointers
- Encourage children to eat healthy meals with fun fruit salad recipes.
- Any fresh fruit can be added to a fruit salad, regardless of whether it changes color.
- Counteract bitterness in a fruit salad with honey, lemon juice, and salt.
- Incorporate fruits of all colors and groups into your child’s diet to ensure they get maximum benefits.
Top 16 Easy Fruit Salad Recipes For Kids To Make
1. Frozen fruit salad
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The frozen fruit salad is a perfect summer delight.
- You will need 1 tin of condensed milk, 15 oz of mandarin oranges, 21 oz of tin cherry or peach pie filling, 1 tin of crushed pineapple, 1 carton of frozen whipped topping, 2/3 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans and lettuce leaves.
- Take a large bowl, mix pie filling and milk. Add pineapple, oranges, and nuts.
- Mix whipped topping gently.
- Transfer to a rectangular pan, cover and freeze in the refrigerator.
- Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.
- Cut out square pieces and serve on lettuce-lined plates.
2. Summer fruit salad
are incomplete without a delicious seasonal fruit salad. This is a refreshing salad made of seasonal fruits.
- To prepare this refreshing salad you need 2 avocados, 2 cups of green grapes slit into halves, 4 cups of loosely packed arugula, 1 julienned mango, 1 cup of strawberries, 2 teaspoons of grated ginger, 1/2 cup of bottled poppy seeds dressing, 1/4 cup of sliced green onions and 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro.
- Whisk ginger and dressing together in a big bowl.
- Add all other ingredients and gently toss them with the dressing. The salad is ready to serve.
3. Fruit salad with yogurt
The salad recipe will surely make your kids want more.
- You need 4 cups of pineapple chunks, 1 quart of strawberries, 2 sliced mangoes, 3 cups of green grapes, 4 oz of fresh raspberries, 1 tablespoon each of honey and dark brown sugar and 2 cups of Greek yogurt
- Pour the yogurt in a bowl and drizzle it with sugar and honey.
- Now, mix all other ingredients in a bowl.
- Serve mixed fruits salad topped with a ladle of chilled yogurt.
A mother and blogger shares how she substituted yogurt with a combination of mascarpone cheese and whipping cream for a sweeter, more indulgent version of this salad. She says, “I have used a combination of mascarpone cheese and whipping cream, which gives it (salad) just the perfect thick, non-watery consistency. Thanks to this combination and the sugar that goes in, this is a calorie-heavy dessert. However, take my word for it, it’s nothing short of heavenly! I do this occasionally when I’m in the mood to indulge myself and the family. I am guessing the mascarpone can be substituted with cream cheese, though I have never tried it that way. I haven’t ever tried healthifying this Mixed Fruit Cream by replacing the sugar with another sweetener… You can use any fruit of your choice in this dessert. I have used banana, apple, and pomegranate, all fruits that my family likes (i).”
Quick tip4. Strawberry and melon salad with lemongrass syrup
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The sweet and sour salad will tease your child’s taste buds.
For Sauce:
- Mix lemongrass, chilies, sugar, lime zest with 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil.
- Simmer until it thickens.
- Keep stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Transfer it to the ice water bath and let it to cool for 15 minutes.
For Salad:
- Now, take strawberries, melon and mint in a bowl and strain the cooled syrup over the fruits. Keep it in the chiller.
- Mix ginger into crème fraiche.
- Now for serving, take some fruits into a bowl and add a dollop of ginger cream over it.
5. Watermelon salad
The salad will be a refreshing delight for your kids.
- You need 4 cups of cubed watermelon, 1/2 cup of chopped red onions, 1/4 cup of chopped parsley, 1/4 cup of pitted olives, 1/4 cup of chopped mint and 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese.
- Add juice and onion in a medium bowl and let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Mix watermelon cubes, olives, mint and parsley in a bowl and keep it in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Sprinkle with cheese and serve.
6. Diced fruit salad
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This appetizing salad is also a visual treat for your toddlers.
- In this recipe, you need one each of the following fruits – kiwi, papaya, mango, 1 pint of strawberries and 2 bananas.
- Cut slices of berries and kiwis and dice mango, papaya and bananas
- Spread out fruits on a lettuce leaf without any dressing.
7. Berries, melon, and pear salad with cayenne and lemon mint syrup
It will surely tantalize the taste buds of your kid.
For Syrup:
- Add 1/3 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup of water, 3 tablespoons of honey, 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of ground red pepper in a pan and bring it to a boil.
- Remove it from the stove and add 1 tablespoon of lemon rind and 1/4 cup of chopped mint.
- Leave it for half an hour and then strain it.
For Salad:
- Chop melon, pear and mix different berries in a bowl,
- Add mint and ground black pepper.
- Now, pour the prepared syrup over the chopped fruits and gently toss.
- Cover the bowl and keep it in the refrigerator for two hours, stirring it occasionally.
- Ground red pepper helps manage the sweetness of the pear, melons, and fresh berries.
8. Mango salad
Mango is the king of fruits and is the perfect ingredient for a summer special salad.
- You need 2 mangoes, 1/2 cup of lemon juice, 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple, 2 or 3 fresh strawberries, 1 cup of orange juice.
- Cut pineapple and mango cubes.
- Blend lemon juice with orange juice and pour over the fruits.
- Serve on a lettuce leaf and garnish with strawberries.
9. Big cherry supreme
It is a unique kid friendly fruit salad recipe prepared with cherries, pineapple, and jello.
- You need 1 can of bing cherries, 1 can of crushed pineapple, 2 cups of fruit juice, 1 cup of chopped pecans, 3 oz of package cherry, raspberry or strawberry gelatin, 3 oz of package black cherry gelatin and 2 to 7 oz of bottled 7-Up.
- Boil fruit juice and pour on gelatin. Stir until it dissolves.
- Cool the gelatin and juice mixture, but do not let them congeal.
- Mix pineapple, cherries and 7-Up into the gelatin mixture.
- Transfer the content into a rectangular glass dish and chill it until it becomes firm.
- Serve chilled with whipped cream.
10. Amy’s apple salad
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If you want to make apple for kids fun and tasty, make the uniquely named Amy’s apple salad. It will surely be a family favorite. It is one of the easy fruit salads for kids to make, so you can pamper your family more often.
- To prepare Amy’s apple salad, you require 2 red apples, 3 celery ribs, 1 yellow apple, 1 pear, 1/2 cup of pecans, 3/4 cup of seedless grapes, 1 orange, and 1 lemon.
- Take a bowl and put chopped celery, apples, and pear, pour orange and lemon juice.
- Mix properly and leave it for ten minutes.
- Drain the juice and save it.
- Mince pecans, add half of it to the marinated fruits and add grapes.
- Blend the remaining pecans with the juice saved earlier to make a puree of nut butter sauce.
- Add this sauce over the fruits in a bowl, mix it well and serve on a lettuce leaf.
11. Sunday special salad
It is an easy fruit salad recipe, especially meant for holidays and special occasions.
- You need 2 apples, 1 can of pineapple chunks, 3 kiwis, 2 bananas, 1 can of peach pie filling and 1 pint of strawberries, 2 cups of pineapple juice.
- Toss chopped apples in pineapple juice and keep it aside for ten minutes.
- Mix pineapple and peach pie filling in a large salad bowl.
- Take out apples from pineapple juice and add it to the salad bowl.
- Add bananas in the pineapple juice and again leave it for ten minutes.
- Slice half of the strawberries and kiwi and add to the salad bowl.
- Remove bananas, add it to the salad bowl and toss.
- Now, slice the remaining strawberries and kiwis and decorate.
12. Orange cream fruit salad
The fruit salad recipe is also one of the most delicious dessert recipes for kids and is guaranteed to be a winner.
- You require 1-1/2 cups of milk, 1/3 cup of frozen orange juice, 1 can of sliced peaches, 3/4 cup of sour cream, 2 sliced bananas, 1 package of instant vanilla pudding and 1 cup of mandarin orange segments, 1 sliced apple.
- Take a mixing bowl and add milk, pudding mix and orange juice. Use an electric mixer to beat the mix for 2 minutes.
- Also, add sour cream while mixing.
- Add the fruits in a salad bowl and gently mix the prepared orange dressing.
- Refrigerate it for two hours and then serve.
Quick tip13. Summertime fruit salad
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You can serve this fruit salad for kids with or without dip.
- You need 1 papaya (cubed), 1 mango (cubed), 2 sliced kiwis, 2 segmented oranges, 1 fresh pineapple (cubed), 1 jar of marshmallow fluff, 8 oz package of cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- Gently toss pineapple, kiwis, mango, papaya and oranges in a salad bowl.
- In another bowl, blend marshmallow, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until creamy.
- Here you have a quick salad. Serve it with a generous topping.
14. Carrot apple salad
It is a sweet and crunchy salad and is a hit across all age groups.
- To prepare this, you will require 4 coarsely grated carrots, 1 apple (cubed), 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, 1/2 cup of raisins, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1/4 tablespoon of pepper and salt.
- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and stir gently.
- Cool it before serving.
15. Winter fruit salad
Winter fruit salad is a must-have during the bleak weather as it adds a dash of color to your regular family meals.
- To prepare this delicious salad you will need 1/2 cup of mayonnaise,1 teaspoon of lemon zest, 2 teaspoons of honey, 1-1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 Granny Smith apple, 1 Braeburn apple, 1 large pear, 1-1/2 package of baby spinach, 1/3 cup of honey roasted sliced almonds, 4 thick bacon slices and 1/3 cup of sweetened dried cranberries and salt.
- To prepare the dressing, whisk together 3/4 of mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, ginger and a pinch of salt.
- Add the remaining mayonnaise in a bowl and mix with apple and pear.
- On a serving platter, arrange baby spinach and spread a spoon of apple and pear mixture over the spinach, sprinkle almonds, bacon, and cranberries.
16. Rainbow fruit salad
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In addition to being nutritious, this salad covers the entire spectrum of the rainbow, making it visually appealing.
- Take 2 cups each of halved red grapes, blueberries, sliced kiwis, mango chunks, chopped musk melons, and halved strawberries.
- Combine 2 tablespoons of honey, ½ cup of preferred fruit juice, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and mix it well to make the dressing.
- On a plate, start arranging the fruits in the sequence of the rainbow colors. Start by placing the halved strawberries and follow with the musk melon pieces, the mango chunks, the kiwis, the blueberries, and the grapes.
- Once your fruit rainbow is perfectly arranged, drizzle the prepared dressing over the fruits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What fruits can I not put in a fruit salad?
Some people believe that one should not add fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, cherries, and pears in a fruit salad because these fruits change color, making the salad look unattractive. However, there’s no strict rule. You can add any fruit to your fruit salad as long as the fruit is fresh. If browning or color change is your concern, you may add these fruits to your salad just before you are ready to serve.
2. How do you take the bitterness out of fruit salad?
Adding flavorful ingredients, such as honey, lemon juice, and salt can counteract bitterness in a fruit salad. Besides, these ingredients can accentuate the natural flavor of the fruits in the salad.
3. Can I make fruit salad for my child’s lunchbox ahead of time?
You can make fruit salad the night before and refrigerate it in an airtight container to keep the salad fresh and crunchy.
4. How can I make a safe fruit salad for kids with food allergies?
You can substitute the food items that the child is allergic to. For instance, if the child is allergic to milk items, substitute them with non-dairy products, and if the child is allergic to certain fruits, then replace them with other fruits.
5. How can I get my child to make their own fruit salad?
To involve your child in making their own fruit salad, allow them to select their favorite fruits, encourage them to wash and slice the fruits using child-safe utensils, let them mix the fruits together, and serve them in a fun bowl with their favorite toppings.
6. How can I make fruit salads more exciting for my kids?
You may dress fruit salads with interesting toppings such as yogurt, granola, roasted seeds, honey, and lemon juice. You can also make themed salads, such as the classic rainbow salad, or stick to a single color, such as a red salad with red fruits like apples, strawberries, cherries, dragon fruit, and raspberries. Involving children in the salad-making process can also excite them, as they get to eat the food they’re helping make.
Fruits are rich in nutrients and should be most certainly added to your child’s diet. Parents may often be looking for interesting ways and recipes so that their children would eat fruits without creating a fuss. You should incorporate fruits of all colors and groups in your child’s diet to ensure they get maximum benefits. Also, delicious fruit salad recipes for kids that include yogurt, some syrups, lemon juice, vinegar, or whipped cream give your child’s diet an added color and flavor.
Infographic: Simple And Nutritious Fruits Salad Ideas For Children
Do you have children that are fussy eaters of fruits? We’ve got you covered, though. Check out this infographic to learn about some simple, colorful, and tasty salad recipes children will enjoy and get all their greens. Save and share it with your friends too! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Healthy And Easy Fruit Salad Recipes For Kids
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Join us as we go on an enjoyable journey of making a delicious fruit salad with children. Let’s get started on our expedition!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Mixed fruit cream with mascarpone| fruit salad with cream.https://thephotowali.wordpress.com/2020/03/05/mixed-fruit-cream-with-mascarpone-fruit-salad-with-cream/
References
- How to Get Your Child to Eat More Fruits & Veggies.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/How-to-Get-Your-Child-to-Eat-More-Fruits-and-Veggies.aspx
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