How much do you know about the vivacious veggie option that kids love?

t’s hard to deny the enduring appeal of pickles—even historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Queen Elizabeth I and Napoleon Bonaparte reportedly adored their tangy, salty flavors. As it turns out, this enduring sandwich side is popular with children, too. “They really love pickles,” says Chef Jason Aronen, Culinary Trainer with Grapevine-Colleyville (Texas) Independent School District. “They’re a great way to get kids to eat vegetables.”

In fact, Aronen recalls that when he first sampled some of his homemade pickles with students, many of them were surprised to discover the source of the tangy green spears. “They were like, ‘These are cucumbers!’” he recalls. “And I said, ‘That’s what pickles are made out of.’ It was fun to educate the kids in such a way.” ...