Caesar or Greek (may not be universal, but my kids would eat both).

I would do a couple of full-fledged boards - one crudites with dips, and a cheese and charcuterie board. Good crusty bread. Pasta with sauces for anyone who wants it. Wine, and a couple of desserts.

Yes to the Greek salad!

I recently had a salad at a restaurant that was so good I've been replicating it at home. Lightly steam broccoli. On a bed of greens, arrange the steamed broccoli and slices of avocado. Toss on something crunchy -- I usually use toasted pumpkin seeds. Make a lemony vinaigrette, or a champagne vinaigrette. Voila.

Anonymous wrote:What about a crudite platter as the "salad"?

A bunch of cool veggies cut up and arranged nicely on a platter like carrots, cucumbers, snap peas, peppers (or mini sweet peppers), celery, zucchini sticks, asparagus (in season/really fresh), grape tomatoes (ripe only), cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, pickles, olives, etc with some dips (hummus, ranch, olive oil, etc).

I cut some of my veggies with a crinkle cut knife to make "chips" and that really appeals to my kids.

Food & Wine has some fun ideas/pics for inspo.

https://www.foodandwine.com/appetizers/hors-doeuvres/crudite-platters

NP. Thanks for that link! Lots of great looking recipes.

What about a crudite platter as the "salad"?

A bunch of cool veggies cut up and arranged nicely on a platter like carrots, cucumbers, snap peas, peppers (or mini sweet peppers), celery, zucchini sticks, asparagus (in season/really fresh), grape tomatoes (ripe only), cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, pickles, olives, etc with some dips (hummus, ranch, olive oil, etc).

I cut some of my veggies with a crinkle cut knife to make "chips" and that really appeals to my kids.

Food & Wine has some fun ideas/pics for inspo.

https://www.foodandwine.com/appetizers/hors-doeuvres/crudite-platters

How about an antipasto salad? I saw one on my Instagram feed and it looked delicious.

I am thinking OP expects the moms to focus on the salad over the pasta but I agree I would cut some fruit or berries for the kids.

You might consider a basic green salad with bowls of some optional toppings like chick peas, beets, cheese,???

Anonymous wrote:If the moms are included, I would definitely offer a large salad. I suggest a greek salad, with the feta in cubes so easy to separate out if they are not eating dairy. It also goes well with pasta.

This is perfect.

If the moms are included, I would definitely offer a large salad. I suggest a greek salad, with the feta in cubes so easy to separate out if they are not eating dairy. It also goes well with pasta.

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, most kids that age don't eat green salads. I would do a fruit salad.

What??^^

Just the opposite here.

Ceasars salad is my first thought.

Don't over think

Just make a simple salad with choice or cheese and dressing.

I would also do fruit salad.

In my experience, most kids that age don't eat green salads. I would do a fruit salad.

Hello there. My daughter (10) has two friends that she knows from an extracurricular activity coming over to play, and have dinner. Their moms are coming too. We have eaten together before at a restaurant a couple of times. They are very nice but I do not know them well. I think one of them is vegetarian. Anyway, for the girls (and us) I'm making pasta with a choice of sauces-- cheese, pesto, marinara, alfredo. Some homemade and some from the jar. The girls are very picky, so that's why they'll have the option of plain pasta.

I'm also going to make garlic bread and a big salad. I want the salad to be tasty and not boring, but I want it to be widely appealing. (Especially since if it was just adults, I would never just serve pasta and sauce.)

Any ideas for salad recipes? Thank you!