• One Pan Cheesy Baked Meatballs with Instant Pot Polenta. Pair with some air fried green beans to round out this hearty meal. I like using 3 pounds of Force of Nature regenerative, grass-fed beef so we have plenty of leftovers. 

• Chicken Flautas with refried beans and guacamole. This meal comes together super quickly with pre-shredded rotisserie chicken. We love Siete's almond flour tortillas for our favorite gluten-free wrapper, and Kite Hill cream cheese and shredded Manchego to make the filling cow-dairy-free. Whole Foods brand refried black beans are seed oil-free and have no added spices, making them great for kids. If you have time, let your kids mash the avocados for the guac and pair with MASA chips.

• BBQ Turkey Meatballs with Roasted Broccoli. Not kidding, my daughter loved these so much she serenaded her meatballs. I like doubling the recipe so I have lunch for a few days. Sub 1 cup of nutritional yeast for the shredded cheese and gluten free panko to make these delicious, crispy meatballs gluten and dairy free. Pair with cooked rice or mashed potatoes to round out the meal. 

• Caesar Salad with Salmon and French Fries. If only I could order this dinner out without the seed oils. Until then, I'm sprinkling some Seatopia salmon filets with Primal Palate's kid friendly Baby Q seasoning and throwing it in the convection oven alongside some Jesse & Ben's seed oil free french fries. Homemade Caesar dressing is a must, so I blitz some anchovy paste, grated garlic, dijon mustard, pure olive oil and two egg yolks in a glass jar with my immersion blender, then add in a few tablespoons of finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

• Lamb Zucchini Chickpea Pitas with Tzatziki. This recipe comes together in lightning speed with the help of a standing mixer grating attachment or food processor. Never had I ever tried labneh before, but it was refreshing alongside the lamb tucked into a soft, not crumbly gluten free pita. 

• No Stir Zucchini Risotto with Air Fried Shrimp. My eldest was skeptical of this one but a quick convert. Time saving tip: you can grate a block of Pecorino Romano or Parmesan for this recipe in a high powered blender, like a Vitamix, in seconds. Served with some microgreens and drizzled with olive oil for added nutrition. 

• Summer Chop Salad with Balsamic Chicken. The perfect dinner for those last late summer farmers market trips. Plus, kids love corn.

• Steak and Corn Elote Salad. I prefer not to mix the cheese into this one because I think it holds up better as leftovers without it. It's a protein- and fiber-packed meal that keeps the whole family well fed.

• Miso Ramen with Tofu and Shiitake Mushrooms. Next up, I'll be pairing Lotus Food's millet and brown rice ramen with organic, non-gmo tofu for a spin on one of my daughter's favorite meals. Trader Joe's sliced shiitakes and store bought bone broth will make this come together in a snap.

Why Seatopia?

We source our seafood from Seatopia because we're particularly thoughtful about seafood quality in our house, and, just as importantly, it's also delicious. Seatopia third-party tests its seafood for contaminants including mercury and microplastics, which gives me additional peace of mind when I'm serving fish to my family. You can take $25 off your first order with code AUBABY.

A Few Things That Help in Our House

• Invite them in. Sometimes getting kids involved in preparing their food leads to more adventurous eating.

• Deconstruct when needed. If your kid doesn't love mixed foods, try serving the components separately rather than making an entirely different dinner.
• Adapt for babies. Many of these meals can be adapted for baby-led weaning. Solid Starts has a helpful guide to age-appropriate preparation and serving.