Mealtimes with kids can be stressful. It’s common for each member to have their own preferred foods. This can lead to pressure to prepare multiple meals.
Serving meals family style can help to reduce stress at the table. Family style meals are when each component of the meal is put on the table, and everyone serves themselves. This gives children choice over their food decisions. It requires the caretakers to give space for their children to choose which foods they want. This may be only 1 or 2 parts of the meal.
Exposure to different foods is one way to increase the likelihood children will try new food. Even if this only means looking at it, smelling it, or touching it. Children are more likely to try new foods when there is less pressure at mealtimes.
Some examples of family style meals.
- taco bar
- pasta with different sauces and toppings
- breakfast buffet
- burger bar
Information gathered and adapted from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/parenting/family-style-meals-children.html, https://nicolecruzrd.com/easy-family-meals-everyone-will-eat/
Chicken Street Tacos
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water (or more)
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Tomatoes, diced (or salsa)
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Sour cream or salsa ranch
Directions
1. Cut the chicken breasts into small pieces and set aside.
2. Heat a large sauté pan on medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add the oil.
3. Add the chicken to the pan. Let the chicken pieces heat in the oil, until they are golden brown. Toss the chicken and continue to cook on the other side until it is no longer pink in the middle.
4. Add the onions and seasonings and continue to sauté. Turn the heat down to low and then add the tomato sauce and water to the mixture. Simmer until sauce is thickened.
5. For the tacos, heat a griddle to medium heat. Place several corn tortillas onto the griddle. Add some shredded cheese on to the tortillas. Add some chicken onto the tortilla. Once the cheese is melted, remove the tacos from the griddle. Serve with chopped cilantro, tomatoes, salsa, etc. If you like a creamy aspect to your tacos, mix ranch and salsa and serve the tacos with this sauce.
Recipe makes: 4 servings
Nutrition Information:
We believe focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. If your medical condition requires you to know of specific nutrition information, please contact us at info@evolutionrd.com.
Recipe adapted from:
https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/pioneer-woman-s-chicken-street-tacos-820766
