Sweet and tangy homemade coleslaw

Sweet cranberries and poppy seed dressing on crisp cabbage make this sweet and tangy Homemade Coleslaw a favorite for everyone!

Sometimes my kids ignore their vegetables. Shocking I know. Usually when it happens a few days in a row it reminds me that we need to switch things up a bit.

While it’s frustrating when the kids refuse to eat, I appreciate how they keep me on my toes. Because it is important for them to try many different foods. This is how they learn to enjoy new things!

And if they didn’t tell me when they got bored with the usual offerings… well, we’d just be suffering from an UDR (unidentified dinner rut). This is not good.

Also, sometimes I hit the jackpot with a new recipe. I will discover something like that Good thing before I know it everyone is back on track to eating their veggies. And I feel like a million bucks.

This salad became an instant hit at our house. It’s crunchy and sweet and pairs perfectly with chicken, pasta, or beans.

We called it Ay Caramba! Coleslaw, because with a silly name the kids are really into it it’s for her.

And it is!

How to Make Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw

This salad is incredibly easy to make, especially if you use a previously shredded coleslaw mix. (Shhh… I’m a bit of a DIY snob, so I shred my own. But you really don’t have to.)

Simply mix the dressing, pour over the cabbage and add the ingredients. Eat it at the table or bring it to a potluck or picnic.

The poppy seeds and jeweled cranberries make it all look so pretty…

The nutrients in this salad are fantastic: it’s packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, protein (really!) and antioxidants.

Yes, it does contain some added sugar from maple syrup, but we’re ok with that. Remember, the goal is to get kids excited about fruits and veggies! If they’re enjoying this coleslaw tonight, there’s a higher chance they will try it differently morning.

Bring kids to the salad

Kids may not like cravings for salads when they are young, but I’ve learned not to worry. You will get by with time and persistence.

And there are a few good tricks we can use to make salads more accessible for little eaters too. That’s exactly what we did here: with finely chopped vegetables, super delicious dressing and sweet dried cranberries, aye caramba! coleslaw is absolutely accessible.

Mix it all up with your kids, put the bowl on the table and see who you turn into a salad lover tonight.