Monster Tacos!

Monster Tacos!

I have been working diligently to “educate” our children about all the fun things we get to do on Halloween (that don’t involve candy)!  I plan to have activities and healthy foods in place to shift the focus of the day away from just trick-or-treating. The less time we spend trick-or-treating, the less candy we will come home with.  If there is less candy at home . . . everyone will eat less candy!

Here is what I have been telling the girls to get them excited about the day:

• “We get to decorate the bushes outside with all the Halloween decorations you made in school and the decorations Mommy bought.”

• Take time decorating the house with all the extra fun stuff on the day of Halloween.  We have caution tape, Halloween ornaments and other fun stuff. 

• “We get to make up silly monster dances!”

• Download some Halloween music (Michael Jackson “Thriller”, “The Monster Mash”) and make up silly dances.

• “We get to make Monster Tacos!”

• Take a taco shell and use the fixings to make monster faces.  Look at our trial run below!

Here are some other ideas I have but haven’t told them about because I don’t know if I can commit:

• Make a piñata over the weekend and fill it with Halloween pencils, stickers, and glow necklaces.  Invite a few friends over for a pre-game swing. 

• Paint pumpkins.

• Turn your basement into a haunted house and invite friends over for a post-game spook!

• Turn daddy into a mummy;)

For other Halloween crafts and healthy food ideas check out this website:  http://spoonful.com/halloween/best-halloween-recipes-gallery

Here is how we made Monster Tacos:

Ingredients for taco meat: 1 medium yellow onion, 1 pound of chop meat, 1 can chopped tomatoes, ½ 1 table spoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of cyan, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper split.

Cookware and tools: Large pot, peeler, can opener, cutting board, knife, spoon, measuring spoons, strainer.

Directions:

1.)   Chop onion and put in pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Heat on medium low for about 5-6 minutes stirring every few minutes.  You want the onion to become slightly translucent.

2.)   Add chop meat.  Stir chop meat and onions together and add ¼ teaspoon of cyan, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, pinch of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.

3.)   When meat is almost fully browned add can of chopped tomatoes and stir all ingredients together.

4.)   When the ingredients begin to bubble, stir for about a minute and put the stove on low and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Toppings to your liking:  avocado, chopped carrots, chopped broccoli, sour cream, shredded cheese, corn, black beans, red peppers and green goop (puréed kale with salsa and sour cream) are just a few suggestions.

Serving:  You can serve with Ezekiel food for life wraps or other wraps that you enjoy.  For left-overs, serve over brown rice and melt cheddar cheese on top.  For a snack, serve a small portion with natural tortilla chips.

Our trial run at Monster Tacos (Shealyn gives new meaning to the term “belly-up”!):

In “Sugar Shock” by Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C., with Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, Dr. Willet is quoted, “Bottom line, greatly reducing or eliminating refined starches and sugar is one of the most important steps you can take toward a better diet and long term well being.”

Live well.  Happy, healthy Halloween:)

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy – kimgilroyinsideout – Open for Business