Fall colors are here and the season is changing. With autumn comes a new bounty of wonderfully healthy vegetables to enjoy! Some of our favorite vegetables arrive in fall and with a little creativity, you can use them in a multitude of kid-approved fall foods for lower-carb, healthier meals. From pizza boats to broccoli tots, your kids will gobble up these delicious meals packed with nutritional goodness and come asking for more!
Instead of macaroni and cheese, try Crockpot Cauliflower and Cheese from Spicy Southern Kitchen. We love this recipe because it’s perfect for busy parents. It takes 5 minutes to prepare and the slow cooker does the rest. Some people believe cauliflower is less nutritious than its produce department counterparts, but that’s not true! Cauliflower has several unique plant compounds that can lower your risk of certain diseases including heart disease and cancer. It’s low in calories, high in fiber and packed with vitamins and minerals!
Instead of stir fry with noodles, try Shrimp Teriyaki with Zucchini Noodles from Gimme Delicious. This recipe utilizes both zucchini and broccoli in a tasty, low-cal stir fry that’s full of nutrition. Replacing pasta with zoodles with a great way to lighten up any noodle dish. Broccoli and zucchini are both high in fiber as well as loaded with important vitamins. You can add other fall vegetables to this recipe as you like, consider adding nutritious fresh veggies like long beans or swiss chard.
Instead of French fries, try Healthy Baked Broccoli Tots also from Gimme Delicious. Not only are they baked instead of fried, they’re loaded with heart-healthy broccoli which is great for developing bodies and brains. Parents can whip them out in just about 30 minutes for a healthier side dish to many meals. Make them with fresh broccoli for the best flavor!
Instead of French bread pizzas, try Pizza Zucchini Boats from Delish.com. These are a fun way to get extra vegetables into your kids and can be made with a variety of seasonal squash, like spaghetti or butternut. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a healthy and quick dinner that kids will love, especially if they can pick their own pizza toppings!
Instead of fried rice, try Cauliflower Fried Rice from Iowa Girl Eats. If your family finds riced cauliflower a bit boring, spice it up into a healthy and flavorful vegetable fried cauliflower rice! Sprinkle in all your favorite diced vegetables and add an egg, you’ve got a wonderful Asian-inspired side dish that’s both light and nutritious. Substitute another sauce for soy sauce and it’s gluten-free too!
As the weather cools, it’s natural to be drawn to heartier, heavier food. Substituting fresh vegetables for carb- and starch-heavy dishes is a great way to lighten up dishes and add extra servings of fiber, vitamins and minerals to all your fall foods.
