You’re going to love this easy, family-style meal. Save this recipe and you’ve got a new fave weeknight meal to throw into the rotation this spring!

When we’re encouraging our little people to build a healthful, low-stress relationship with food, one of the best strategies I’ve learned from my Registered Dietitian pals is: serve meals deconstructed + family-style!

My friends (and former BB mamas, BTW!) Jay Baum and Nishta Saxena talk about this all the time on their super helpful IG feeds and blogs, all about feeding yourselves & your little people well.

Breaking the components down and letting each family member – yes, even toddlers – choose their own adventure can lead to less mealtime stress.

So this recipe is taco fun – with make-your-own components served family-style – but one-bowl convenient. Because, while I like a taco here and there, they’re SO MESSY and that irks my type A side.

These bowls have all the flavour and toppings but can be eaten in front of a movie. Pandemic win! Since when are you not watching TV these days???

BTW: If you love tacos in the shell, try these Turkey Lentil Tacos – they’re a fave with our BB mamas and in our house, too!

Make them #plantbased with TVP “beef” or use ground turkey, pork or beef – or even a can of black beans fried up quickly with the spices below! Yum.

✌️Super versatile and adaptable to whatever you’ve got around.

Kid-Friendly Plant-Based Taco Bowls

Serves 4-6

• 1 lb plant based “ground meat” or meat of choice

• 2 tsp each: child powder, cumin, smoked paprika

• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 ½ cups basmati rice

• 2 small bell peppers, chopped

• 2-3 small tomatoes, chopped

• 2-3 avocados, pitted & scooped

• 2-3 scallions, chopped

• large handful cilantro, finely chopped

• ½ cup frozen corn

• 1 lime, zested

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 cup cheese, grated

• salt & pepper

1. Cook rice according to directions & set aside.
2. Combine sour cream + lime zest in a small dish. Season with S&P.
3. Juice lime & combine with avocado flesh in a medium bowl. Grate in ½ – 1 clove garlic + add 2-3 tbsp finely chopped cilantro. Taste & season.**
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large skillet over medium-high. Add meat; sauté until browned. Add spices & saute 1-2 more minutes. Add a splash of water or ketchup to make it “saucy” if desired. (Ketchup = tomato paste, vinegar, sugar & salt – a perfect sauce addition in a pinch!) Remove from pan & set aside.
5. Combine peppers & garlic in same pan. Add oil if needed. Sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Add frozen corn; saute another 3-4 minutes. Add rice back to pan. Sauté until rice crisps a bit.***
6. Add green onions and S&P to rice. Serve rice with tomatoes, cilantro, meat, lime crema, guac + grated cheese.

** optional: skip guacamole & serve avocado cubed, plain, with lime wedges for squeezing.

*** optional: remove veggies to a bowl and serve alongside rice if fussy eaters might reject rice mixed with veggies!

xo

-D.