I can’t believe it has been a month since we have been home. If you’re a parent, you are now a teacher, a chef, the maid, an amazing multi-tasker and probably business on the top and comfy pants on the bottom on your work zoom calls (or maybe you’re an essential worker- if so, thank you). The last thing you want to do right now is think of new recipes to feed your family for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack on repeat, every single day. So, I am sharing a few of my favorite ways to sneak in veggies and fruits into your diet and giving you a couple of ideas to make cooking and eating more fun in your household. I hope you enjoy!
1. Make it Mini
Let’s be truthful, everything is way cuter (and delicious) when made mini, especially baked goods. Baking mini also helps with portion control. Make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, mine is Cooking Classy’s, linked here. Make teaspoon sized balls when forming your cookies, it’s going to make about double the amount. Then, freeze half of them, enjoy a few now and save some for another day 🙂
2. Mac & Cheese, Yes Please.
We can all agree mac & cheese is a go-to staple these days. It’s easy, it’s delicious and it’s oh so comforting right now. I love having it a few times a week, but I always choose a guilt-free mac & cheese filled with protein and fiber (AKA CHICK-PEA PASTA) My fiance never has a clue he’s eating chick-peas when I use the my fave chick-pea pasta brand, Banza. I like to serve this creamy mac & cheese with panko-crusted chicken tenders and steamed broccoli-for the ultimate comfort meal.
3. DIY Yogurt Bowls
Grab a few flavors of yogurt, your favorite fruits such as strawberries, bananas, black raspberries, oranges (yay, vitamin c), crunchy granola, cereal options and toppings such as honey, caramel, peanut butter or whatever you have in the house! Lay out everything on the kitchen table and give each person in your family their favorite bowl. Let everyone build their own nutritious and colorful breakfast! Yogurt bowls are the perfect mix of creamy, crunchy and fruity to start off your day.
4. Taco Tuesday
I am pretty sure we all love Taco Tuesday, so why not try something new as the base? These mini taco bell pepper boats are colorful, crunchy and you could pop them in your mouth. Serve on top of a salad, with a side of yellow rice and beans and your fave tortilla chips, I love Siete brand. Start by cooking your favorite taco meat: I like to use ground turkey seasoned with salt, pepper, fresh garlic, chopped yellow onions and taco seasoning, from Trader Joes. Slice your peppers in half and spoon out the seeds. Stuff your taco meat inside each half and top with a Mexican cheese blend. Pop them in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes. Top with sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, lime and hot sauce and DIG IN.
5. Mid-Day Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to add fruits (and veggies) into your kids diet and your own. Use your milk of choice or yogurt (I like to use fat-free or silk almond milk), cut up some fresh fruit, such as bananas, mixed berries, pineapple, mango etc and freeze them. You can use them in future smoothies and you won’t have to use ice, which causes the smoothie to get watery. Blend your milk, fruit and other toppings of choice, such as peanut butter, chia seeds, or throw in some riced cauliflower (your kids will have no idea as the color won’t change and it doesn’t taste like cauliflower!) Pour into their favorite cup ( here is one of mine ) and pour yourself one!
I hope you enjoyed these yummy ideas, I am thinking it is a mac & cheese kinda night on the couch (this is okay, right?) finishing up Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu. What about you? Tag me on instagram if you use any of these ideas, I would love to see your versions of them!
xo Jamie
Jamie Devergillo 