Kid Friendly- Healthy Sloppy Joe Meal
Ever just want a good, messy sloppy joe? 🙋♀️
Something your kiddos will eat, but that you can enjoy also… without having to make a separate dinner for yourself.
Well, let me tell you… anything homemade with fresh ingredients is going to be healthier then going out to eat or using packaged foods! Plus, if you want to enjoy simple pleasures and easy meals that your kids will enjoy, but maintain a healthy weight and body; then consider putting in the extra time to plan and prep your own foods at home.
Yes, packaged and pre-prepped foods are fast and easy, but simple homemade meals can be quick as well… with just a little bit more clean up. There are so many different forms of sugars and preservatives in even your basic condiments, that you wouldn’t even have guessed where there. So ditch them and make your own!
Want to make this kid friendly food a balanced, complete meal?
- A heathy balanced meal first consists of smaller portion sizes. So don’t go overboard sloppy-ing it up and loading yourself with added fries! I know I can easily do that if I’m not paying attention. My boys will too! So I don’t add the fries onto their plate until they ate half of their sandwich and veggies!
- Next, you need to have a balance of protein, “mono and polyunsaturated fats- the “good” fats and complex carbohydrates- the “good” carbs.
- So the meat and beans are your protein.
- The meat (even with the fat drained) and maybe that dab of dressing you dip your veggies in, are your good fats.
- Then, your good carbohydrates consist of the vegetables/ salad, the thin whole grain bread/ healthy gluten free bread and/or a small portion of fries.
Check out this concoction:
It’s kid friendly, balanced, healthier, messy and will be the activity of the night… 🤣 Plus, it’ll make everyones taste buds smile. Have your children join in on the dinner prep fun as well, to teach them about the joys of cooking good foods for themselves and others. What a dynamic and important lesson for them! Just have patience and know it will take longer and be a little messier going into it! 👍
Healthier Homemade Sloppy Joe's
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean ground beef Or ground turkey!
- 2 Cloves minced garlic I like to use the frozen minced garlic
- 1/2 Minced onion (or use onion powder)
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2/3 cup Tomato Sauce or a Natural ketchup (Simply Heiz or Annies Organic- Make sure theres no high fructose corn syrup in your ketchup)
- 1 tsp Yellow mustard You could use dijon if you like that taste. I change it up
- 1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Coconut aminos (soy sauce substitute)
- 1 Tbs Honey
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Chili powder
- dash Salt and pepper
- 1 can Drained black beans (optional) adds a little more protien and filling nutrients.
- 1 finely chopped carrot and 1 celery stalk (optional) ... can add to meat if your kids don't like fresh veggies. My Oliver is a textured eater... so I don't mix them in anymore and now serve veggies on the side.
Instructions
- Cook ground beef/ turkey and crumble it as it cooks. Drain fat completely.
- Add minced garlic and onion (plus, finely chopped carrot and celery stalk if you choose to add) and cook until soft. Add beef back in and stir well.
- Next, add water, tomato sauce/ ketchup, mustard, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, honey, cinnamon, chili powder, salt, pepper and drained black beans ( if using). Mix well to combine.
- Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat.
- Serve on top of a whole grain- thin bun, healthier gluten free bun (there are some that have a lot of preservatives and other nasties in them... so read the ingredients!), or over a nice bed of lettuce!
Notes
- Helpful hint about turnip fries: Medium aged turnips taste like potato, tender/young turnips taste sweet like carrots.
- Health note: If you cut and make your own fries, you wont have all the extra crap they put in the packaged ones from the store. 😉
Please share the balanced side dishes you have added to make this meal complete!
