Nutrition

Radishes are a great way to pack in your folic acid and a source of vitamin C. Vitamin C supports our immune system to fight off the flu.

Shopping Guide

Look for bright and smooth radishes, free of cracks and cuts. Any leaves still attached should be vibrant and firm. 

Storage

Wrap them in a damp paper towel and keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Preparation

Radishes are an edible root vegetable usually eaten raw in salad. A popular way to eat them is just with the green tops trimmed and served with butter or a dip. Or try thin radish slices, salad greens, chopped spring onions and apple slices for a great summer salad which goes well with chicken. You should also try roasted radishes, yes, roasted! Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas 6 and toss in a little oil and a pinch of salt and roast until mellower and sweeter in flavour, just starting to go golden and softened. Or just pop in the pan with a chicken for a roast.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a younger child, why not buy a bunch of radishes that still have the greens attached and let your child wash the radishes and then tear off or cut off the greens of each radish with scissors? Or make a simple dip with them to serve the radishes with. Try a simple hummus or salsa or guacamole together.

For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to practise some essential knife skills. Show them how to safely halve radishes using the bridge grip.

Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.

Sensory

Radishes can be fun to explore through smell and hearing. Ease in by describing what you see and what the colours and patterns and shape remind you of. Then chop a radish in half and see what it smells like? Describe the smell and see if your child is willing to try a bit to see if it tastes like it smells. To explore through hearing, try crunching (or snapping if not willing to put into mouths) and describing the crunch and noise levels. If you can, try crunching again with headphones on to see if it changes how loud it is!

Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!

Serving

Next time you serve up some radishes, see if your child wants to help you make a dip and plate it all up – can they arrange the radishes around it so it looks like a flower?

Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.

Activities

Why not try making a radish face mask by printing our carrot mask and colouring in with radish colours instead?

Kids more interested in science? Why not try your hand at making radish mice? Stefan Gates shows you how to chop and combine bits of radishes to make cute little mice to add some fun to a veg snacking plate.

Find loads more free veg-themed crafts here, games here or fun at-home science with Stefan Gates here.