Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad

It's strawberry season in Massachusetts! Yum!

Strawberry field at a local farm.

Strawberry plant with a beautiful, ripe berry!

Let's celebrate but making a delicious and nutritious salad. This simple salad requires two main ingredients plus a dressing.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Salad ingredients:
1/2 lb baby spinach or large leaf spinach cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup strawberries, sliced
optional: 1/3 cup walnuts or almonds, rough chopped
optional: 2 ounces feta cheese or goat cheese crumbles
optional: substitute half or all of the spinach with lettuce

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss with your favorite vinaigrette dressing or make one from scratch using the recipe below.

Dressing ingredients:
1/2 cup Olive oil
1/4 cup Red wine vinegar
1 tsp honey (can substitute honey with sugar or agave)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Dash of salt and pepper

Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Secure with a lid and shake until all ingredients are combined. Add the dressing to the salad just before serving.

Strawberry spinach salad from a taste test at the Winter Hill School.

Here's a tip for encouraging your child to try new foods:

Kids are often more open minded about new foods if they are involved in preparing the meal or snack. You can start by finding a local farm that allows you to pick your own berries. Alternatively, you can take them to the farmers' market or grocery store and let them choose the ingredients. At home, invite them into the kitchen. Show them the recipe. Ask them to help you measure out the ingredients. Help them shake the dressing jar and dress the salad. Encourage them to try a bite. Praise them when they try something new! Even the very young can help with all of these steps.

Content and photos provided by Karyn Novakowski, Farm to School Project Director, SPS FNS

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