Quinoa "fried rice"

I try to make at least one vegetarian meal a week.  When looking for recipes, searching for vegetarian meals brings up a lot of pasta dishes.  I was so happy to find this recipe on superhealthykids that includes quinoa and vegetables!  Quinoa is high in protein and fiber and includes some antioxidants as well.  This meal is so tasty and my boys, especially Owen, loved it.  This can be made very quickly too, especially if you prepare the quinoa the night before.  I served the "fried rice" with a side of broccoli and fruit and it kept everyone full the rest of the night.

Ingredients:

2 medium carrots, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP butter ( I substituted butter with olive oil and it tasted just as good)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup green peas (frozen)
4 cups cooked quinoa
4.5 TBSP soy sauce ( I use low sodium)
1 TBSP oyster sauce

Directions:

1) Chop carrots, onion, and garlic, set aside
2) In a large pan over med/high heat and 1 TBSP oil (or butter) and add eggs, scramble with spatula        and cook.  Set aside.
3) Add another TBSP oil (or butter) back to pan and add chopped veggies, cook until soft.
4) Add another TBSP oil (or butter) and stir in cooked quinoa, eggs, and sauces, mix and cook for at least 2 minutes.

Tacos!

I love tacos, its a meal I don't have a problem with eating day after day.  I found a recipe on showmetheyummy that includes two types of bell peppers!  Peppers are full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and also helps support your vision with vitamin A.  This is now my go to recipe for tacos and we have had this every week for taco Tuesday the past few weeks!  I love being able to make my own seasoning as well.  Packaged taco seasoning includes preservatives and anti-caking agents.  This recipe is so easy and so yummy, I hope you like it as much as my family does!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey (I use ground turkey breast)
1 small onion diced
1 large green pepper diced
1 large red pepper diced
2 TBSP chili powder
2 TSP paprika powder
2 TSP cumin
2 TSP garlic powder
1 1/2 TSP salt
1 TSP pepper
1/4 cups water

Directions:

1) Add some olive oil to pan and heat to med/high
2) Once hot add turkey, onion, peppers, and spices
3) Cook until meat is cooked and veggies are tender
4) Add water and simmer until mixture thickens
5) Top with whatever toppings you love!

Vegetable teriyaki chicken

My family loves teriyaki chicken, but the dish you buy at many local restaurants is often full of so much salt and sugar, and usually not good quality meat.  I came across this recipe from realhousemoms and not only is it really tasty it has 2 vegetables incorporated!  This recipe is fairly easy but does require some prep.  To make this recipe quicker I try to have the chicken baked in advance.  This is something you can do the night before and slice/dice and refrigerate for the following day.  When baking my chicken I coat with a small amount of olive oil then season with salt/pepper.  I generally only bake 2 chicken breasts at a time, 375F for 30 minutes.

I diced up chicken very small for my toddlers

Ingredients:

SAUCE
1/4 cup soy sauce (we use low sodium)
1/2 cup water
2 TSP minced garlic
1 TSP minced ginger
3 TBSP honey
1 TBSP brown sugar
2 TSP toasted sesame oil
1 TBSP + 1 TSP cornstarch

STIR FRY
2 chicken breasts (either sliced or cut up smaller for the kiddos)
2 cups broccoli
1 red bell pepper (diced)
salt and pepper to taste
1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP sesame seeds

Directions:

SAUCE
1) Place the soy sauce, water, garlic, ginger, honey, brown sugar, and sesame oil in a small pot over medium-high heat.  Bring to a light boil.
2) Mix the cornstarch with 2 TBSP cold water until dissolved.
3) Add cornstarch mixture to the sauce and boil for 2-3 minutes until sauce has thickened, set aside.

STIR FRY
1) Heat olive oil in large pan over medium-high heat
2) Add the broccoli and pepper and season with salt/pepper
3) Cook until the vegetables are tender ( I cook a little longer to make sure they are soft enough for my toddlers)
4) Add 2 TBSP water and cook until evaporated, set vegetables aside
5) If you aren't using chicken that has been prepared prior this is when you can add more olive oil to your pan and cook chicken until no longer pink, season with salt/pepper.
6) Combine chicken and vegetables in pot and mix with sauce
7) Serve over your favorite rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

I serve over whole grain rice