Yum Yum Bowl!

So before you look at what I made for dinner and say, "There's no WAY my kid will eat that!" I just wanted to put out a disclaimer that I have an ulterior motive so stick with me.

So I started by telling Mary Ann that we were having Yum Yum bowls for dinner.  Just the name had her ready to go!  Now here is how I built my bowls!

I cook a few separate things. None of them take very long, or a lot of attention.  Very set it and forget it. :) So during naptime I stuck a sweet potato in the oven.  Cook at 350degrees until you can easily pierce it with a fork.  Time varies depending on your potato. If you are a newbie to cooking sweet potatoes make sure you put it on foil.  The leak sticky yummy stuff as they bake, but it makes a huge mess!

Cook some quinoa according to box directions.  Typically it is put water and quinoa in the pot, bring to a boil and simmer on low for 20-30min.  Very similar to cooking rice.

I made roasted chick peas.  Now you can use them uncooked, roasted or not at all.  If you want to roast them preheat your oven to 425. Drain and rinse the chick peas and pat dry. Add them to a little bowl with olive oil (1-2tbsp) and your favorite seasoning (Old Bay, garlic powder, parmesan, etc). Roast in the oven for about 20-30 min.  Keep a close eye in the last 10 because the burn quickly.

You can see I also have pita, avocado, shredded carrots and hummus.

So here it is!  My kiddo's Yum Yum bowl!  I put chick peas, sweet potato, avocado, carrots and pita in a bowl. Done!  She loved it AND ate it for lunch again the next day.

Now, for those of you who hate me since my kid will eat just about anything here is my take away for you!  When I saw this I thought that it wouldn't be right for the blog for picky eaters.  But then I thought about the concept.  Many things in a bowl!  It just fun!  Kids aren't as bound by conventional meal eating laws as adults so why don't we just throw their favorites in a bowl and let them have at it!  Maybe a Yum Yum bowl is cut up turkey, cheese, goldfish, apples and corn!  Hit the major food groups, throw it in a bowl and call it Yum Yum!

Now my bowl I took a little further.  I added a bed of spinach to start mine out. 

Here is my complete product with the quinoa and hummus that I didn't get in Mary Ann's (more for fear of mess than anything)! I made myself some pita too thinking there was no way this bowl of veggies and quinoa would fill me up. I was shocked!  Not only did it fill be up but everything in the bowl tasted better than the pita!  That is saying something coming from the queen of carbs!  I think next time I may add a little feta to the quinoa! 

Here's to No Daddy Dinners!

Adapted from: http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/06/the-big-vegan-bowl/