Toddler Taco Bar

 

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! I don’t know about you but where I am, it’s springtime and I’m so excited to cook with all the fresh produce that’s coming back into season. Each year, I feel like Cinco de Mayo rings in those warmer months and gets me excited for the summer ahead.

So today we have a Cinco de Mayo-inspired recipe for your toddler, using one of our Amara baby food blends!

Our Black Bean and Sweet Corn puree takes center stage in the recipe below. Like all of our organic baby food blends and yummy toddler yogurt melts, the ingredients in this puree are super fresh and simple and actually taste like the real thing—because they are the real thing!

What we love about Amara's Black Bean and Sweet Corn:

• only 2 ingredients: organic cooked black beans and organic sweet corn

• no added sugar or additives

• no soy, dairy, or gluten 

• extra iron and potassium 

• great source of fiber and protein

Cinco De Mayo Toddler Taco Bar!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of Amara Black Bean and Sweet Corn
• 1 medium-sized sweet potato
• Olive or avocado oil
• Corn or whole wheat tortillas

Optional Toppings!:

Avocado
Sour Cream
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Chopped olives
Chopped tomato

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Peel your sweet potato and cut it into inch-size cubes. 

3. Place your cubed sweet potato in a bowl and toss with olive oil to evenly coat.

4. Roast the potato on a cookie sheet in the oven for about 20 minutes (stirring halfway). You’ll know it’s done when you can easily pierce the potato with a fork. 

5. While the potato is cooking, prepare the Amara Black Bean and Sweet Corn puree. Open the meal packet and pour the contents into a small bowl. Then add 4-5 tablespoons of breast milk, formula, or water and stir. Set the puree aside.

6. Prepare a small soft tortilla wrap (whole wheat, corn, or spinach ones are great). To warm it up: dampen two paper towels and squeeze out any excess. Wrap around your tortilla and heat in the microwave for ~15-20 seconds.

Then, it’s taco time! Spread a layer of the Black Bean and Sweet Corn puree on the wrap, add a few sweet potatoes and add your toppings.

A few ideas for toppings:

Instead of sour cream, how about Greek yogurt? It’s higher in protein and calcium and lower in fat and lactose than sour cream—and tastes very similar! Or if you’re looking for a dairy-free option, there are great nut-based yogurts that mimic sour cream/Greek yogurt.

For the diced tomatoes, you can use a medium-sized heirloom or Roma one—or a few cherry tomatoes that are a little bit sweeter. Doesn’t matter!

As for shredded lettuce, romaine is a great option. It’s crunchy and full of nutrients (vitamin C, K, and folate), making it a much better option than iceberg lettuce. You can also try chopped-up spinach or even bok choy. These are both LOADED with folate and other great vitamins—which is why they’re considered superfoods—and taste-wise, they mimic lettuce. If you’re unfamiliar with bok choy, it’s really common in Asian cuisine and tastes a little like cabbage. It’s crunchy and delicious, imo!

Finally, for shredded cheese, you could use cheddar or mozzarella. Or try a vegan cheese that mimics cow-based cheese for a dairy-free option!

And of course, if your little one isn’t ready for a tortilla wrap, you can also just present the ^^ food to them as a ‘3-course’ baby-led weaning meal – sweet potatoes, avocado, and black beans/sweet corn, yum! And for even younger babies—8-months old+—who are being introduced to solids, you can always forgo the tortilla wrap and puree the sweet potato with the black bean & sweet corn.

MORE handy-dandy TIPS:

Try to use organic produce when possible. Wash veggies before use.

If you live near a farmer’s market, try shopping there for your produce. That way, you support local and small businesses, and you help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions involved in food transportation. And if you go to the farmer’s market on a less busy day (i.e., I’d avoid the weekends), I find it’s a MUCH better shopping experience than a traditional grocery store. You get to know the merchants; you get to walk around, often outside or inside a cool old markethouse; and your kids get to see how a lot of different food is made, often from different cultures. All of that promotes positive associations with healthful, joy-filled eating!

Leftovers? Great! Simply store any in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy in the next day or two! We recommend serving at room temperature or slightly heated-up.

Lastly, as a variation on the recipe above, try swapping the Black Bean and Sweet Corn puree with Amara’s Tropical Mango puree and pairing it with a protein like chicken or fish for another Cinco de Mayo-inspired meal! 

How have you been using our Black Bean and Sweet Corn puree? Quesadillas?! A layered dip!? We’d love to hear your recipes!