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Rainbow Veggie Salad for Kids: Fun & Healthy Summer Side Dish - Bright, Crunchy, and Kid-Approved

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Red: 1 cup red bell pepper, diced small
  • Orange: 1 cup carrots, peeled and finely chopped (or matchsticks chopped smaller)
  • Yellow: 1 cup yellow bell pepper, diced small
  • Green: 1 cup cucumber, seeds removed and diced small
  • Blue/Purple: 1 cup purple cabbage, finely shredded
  • Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup sweet corn (fresh or thawed frozen), 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Crunchy extras (optional): 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
  • Protein boost (optional): 1 cup cooked chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (mild)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional, for a gentle flavor)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Prep the veggies: Wash and dry all produce. Dice bell peppers and cucumber into small, kid-friendly pieces. Finely shred the purple cabbage. Chop the carrots small so they’re easy to chew.
  2. Optional add-ins: If using corn, tomatoes, parsley, seeds, or chickpeas, prep them now. Pat chickpeas dry so they don’t water down the salad.
  3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust for sweetness or tang. It should taste bright and lightly sweet.
  4. Build the rainbow: In a large bowl, arrange veggies by color if serving right away for a rainbow look. If mixing in advance, go ahead and toss everything together.
  5. Toss to coat: Drizzle half the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Add more dressing as needed. You want a light coating, not soggy veggies.
  6. Finish and serve: Sprinkle seeds on top for crunch, if using. Serve immediately, or chill for 15–30 minutes to let flavors mingle.