I love our Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins! The time we have together and the memories we have built are priceless! And, as my husband will attest, I love all things pumpkin! Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, pumpkin soup, pumpkin plain, pumpkin fancy! I looked around at a bunch of pumpkin recipes, and as I looked at the many variations, I decided to experiment and make my own creation.
Here is the result! Mmm! My sixteen year old said after eating her taco, "I hate pumpkin, so thank you! You finally found a pumpkin recipe I like!"
Pumpkin tacos
small head of cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2-3 cups of pumpkin, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup olive oil (just to barely coat)
1 lime juiced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
toss together to coat
bake at 400 for 30 minutes
(For a variation, cannellini beans can be tossed in with the pumpkin after baking)
Toppings
shredded cabbage (I like purple best)
tomato, chopped
red onion, sliced
guacamole (see below)
Jalapeno cilantro sauce
1/2 cup cilantro
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno
1 cup coconut milk
blend until smooth
Guacamole
1 avocado
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 roma tomato, diced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 drops lime vitality essential oil
mash avocado, add the rest, mix, and enjoy!
Serve with whole wheat or
To assemble
Pile cabbage first, then pumpkin/cauliflower mixture, then the other toppings and sauce!
Enjoy! I know I did, as the kids had to tell me to stop making noises! lol!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! Adding variety to our diet is the best way to get all the nutrients we need for optimal health!
Join our Veggie Up!! Challenge to up your veggie game and feel the difference as your body thanks you!
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Is it a fight at your house?
Or do your kids eat spinach like Popeye?
Spinach: the super food!
Spinach is one of those super foods we all know is good for us, but getting most kids (and adults - let's be honest!) to eat it can be difficult!
One piece of advice for moms-to-be: eat a lot while you are pregnant** and breastfeeding and when you start your little one on solid foods, start with vegetables! This will help the taste be familiar and your child will accept it much more readily.
**Bonus - spinach contains folate, which you need for the optimum development of your sweet baby!
We need to eat greens both raw and cooked every day for the nutrients they contain. When served on a regular basis, kids and adults will get used to them and learn to enjoy them.
Pro parenting tip: serve vegetables first - this has helped our kids learn to eat just about everything - although it can be a process. Set the healthy expectation that everyone eats the same thing and vegetables are required!
One of my favorite ways to get spinach in our diet is to put it in smoothies! These are total kid pleasers! One of our "rules" is that a handful of spinach goes into every recipe. I use a Vitamix blender - it will blend just about anything super smooth!
Have Picky Eaters? Grab this guide: 7 Strategies to Help Picky Eaters Eat!
Here are a few of our morning pleasers.
Mango
1 handful of spinach
2 cups frozen mango
2 bananas (freckled)
1 peach
1/2 lemon - juiced
2-3 cups water/non dairy milk
3 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
Mixed berry
1 handful of spinach
2 cups frozen mixed berries
2 bananas (freckled)
1/2 carrot
1/2 lemon - juiced
2-3 cups water/non dairy milk
3 drops tangerine essential oil
Strawberry
1 handful of spinach
2 cups frozen strawberries
2 bananas (freckled)
1/2 lemon - juiced
1 apple
2-3 cups water/non dairy milk
3 drops lemon essential oil
This one is not sweet
Spinach/Kale
1-2 handfuls of spinach
1-2 handfuls of kale (spines taken out)
1 cucumber - skin scrubbed, but not peeled
1 thumbnail sized piece of fresh ginger
1 lime- juiced
1-2 drops ginger essential oil
1-2 drops lime essential oil
(This can also be juiced - if you prefer - add the essential oils at the end)
Use leftovers to fill popsicle molds for later - my kids go through these so fast! (I would recommend the Spinach/Kale smoothie to be consumed as a liquid.)
You may have noticed I use freckled bananas to sweeten them. Hard green bananas will not have the same effect.
If you are looking to transition gradually - sweeten the smoothies at first or add yogurt. Little by little lessen the amounts of those ingredients as your taste adjusts (and it will!).
Looking for additional reading material?
Super Foods Rx, By Steven Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Matthews is fantastic!
Eat to Live-audio / Eat to Live, by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is excellent!
This page contains affiliate links.
Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for supporting us!
My blogs contain some affiliate links.
Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for supporting us!
