Simple & Affordable Family Meals With A Veggie Twist

Getting the family together for meals can be a challenge, but we know it’s so important! Research published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics found that children who had better family meal environments showed lower levels of soft-drink consumption and aggressiveness, and higher levels of social skills and fitness.¹ Even when we manage to find a few minutes to sit down together for a meal, the real struggle begins – is everyone eating their veggies?

Kids of all ages (yes, I’m talking about parents too) may struggle to meet the recommendation of 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In honor of National Fruits & Veggies month and National Family Meals Month this September, here are a few simple weeknight meal ideas you can create in under 30 minutes with a veggie twist. Aim to sit down as a family once more per week this September and enjoy one of these delicious meals!

A neat and discreet way to add veggies to a meal is by blending chopped mushrooms into your ground meat! Not only are mushrooms nutrient-rich with fiber, B vitamins and selenium, but they can also boost flavor and moisture in your dishes. Consider incorporating these budget-friendly gems into your favorite meals like burgers, tacos, lasagna and spaghetti! For a quick recipe rule of thumb, blend 8 oz. mushrooms into 8 oz. ground meat and adjust based on your family’s taste. Try this Mushroom-Beef Burger with Broccoli Slaw recipe to get your mushroom meals going, followed by two other great recipes to try!

Who doesn’t love Taco Tuesday? Although tacos are a great go-to meal idea for busy nights, consider switching it up with these tasty quesadillas!  One way to extend the ground meat and pump up the nutrition in recipes like this one is by adding beans.  If your kids aren’t big fans of beans, try mashing or pureeing them before blending them into the meat.

Turkey and Black Bean Quesadillas

Cauliflower Fried Rice with Chicken