by Ronda from Michigan
My family loves meatless meals…NOT!
At one point I did begin to introduce meatless meals three days of the week. Although I’m mostly a pescatarian (someone who doesn’t eat meat but eats fish), I still allow my family to eat what they love in moderation. However, as a mom of two growing boys and a grown man/husband who acts like a growing boy, the health of their digestive systems is most important to me. Making sure they all get the vitamins and nutrients in their daily food intake is my top priority.
Over the years, to get my family more engaged in eating healthier I’ve learned it’s all about taste, texture, and believe or not, color. Food made fun is often food made more likely to be eaten.
As I take you on a short journey of meals in our household, I’ll start with the most colorful and one of my favorite meals to make with the kids. Ditch the pizza rolls and roll with a healthier, happier, more fun choice:
Zucchini Pizza Bites
2 zucchinis
pizza sauce
cheese (we use mozzarella, but use what you have!)
Slice a zucchini into ¼ inch slices, spread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone, spoon a little pizza sauce on top of each zucchini slice, add a pinch of shredded mozzarella on top of each slice, and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!
What I love most about this next meal is that it’s packed with a punch of protein and fresh herbs.
Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potato
1 1/2 cups Black beans
1/2 cup corn
4 sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon oil
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup diced red onion
Mix black beans and corn, then pan sear in ½ teaspoon of olive oil in a pan for a few seconds. With a fork, poke the potatoes a few times on each side, lightly coat the potatoes with olive oil, and bake on 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until fully cooked.
In a separate bowl mix all the other ingredients. Cut the potatoes in half when they are baked, and place the mixed ingredients in the middle of each potato. Season with salt and pepper to your taste and enjoy!
These are just a few recipes in our repertoire. At the end of the day, I get the satisfaction of knowing my family is still getting the benefits of healthy eating without sacrificing taste for nutritional value.
This blog was written by one of our guest bloggers, Ronda.
About Ronda. . .
Hello! My name is Ronda. I am a wife and mother of two amazing boys ages one and three.
I reside in Michigan, and I’m looking forward to sharing and learning helpful daily tips.
Meatless Meals can be a great way to mix up your usual recipes! Check out our free lesson called Meatless Meals For Busy Families. Find it on wichealth.org in the Choosing Healthy Foods category.
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