Farmer's Market Meals Your Kids Will Love

When I became pregnant with our first child, I started learning more about the food industry. I decided I didn't want chemicals, hormones and other additives to be part of my diet. Furthermore, I wanted my daughter to eat clean. By the time we had our second child, we had switched to a primarily organic diet. We enjoy farmer's markets and fresh, local food. I am surprised at how many vegetables my kids like. These farmer's market meals will delight your children too.

Breakfast

It's fun to go to the farmer's market with your children and pick out some fresh local berries. French toast with berries is a bright and healthful way to start the morning. Whole wheat bread, farm fresh eggs and organic berries give this meal substance. Add a little bit of maple syrup to satisfy a child's sweet tooth.

Healthy French Toast

8 pieces of whole wheat bread

6 farm fresh eggs

½ cup of organic milk or almond milk

1 tablespoon of vanilla

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Organic blueberries and raspberries

Maple Syrup

Whip eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon together in a bowl. Pour into shallow, wide bowl. Heat a little butter in a frying pan. Dip bread into mixture until both sides are covered. Place bread in pan and cook until slightly brown with crispy edges. Garnish with a mixture of organic raspberries and blueberries. Finally, drizzle with maple syrup.

Lunch

Once a month, I receive a produce delivery from local farms. For my first delivery, I received some basil. This inspired me to make homemade pesto sauce. The best thing about this recipe is you can tailor it to fit your children's needs. For instance, you can add more cheese or omit the garlic.

Pasta with Homemade Pesto

1 box of your kids' favorite pasta

10 organic basil leaves

1 clove of organic garlic

1/3 cup of toasted slivered almonds

¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup of grated organic parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Next, spread almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for seven minutes. Cook pasta according to the directions. As the pasta cooks, put almonds in a food processor and pulse. Add remaining ingredients and pulse again until blended. Finally, drain the pasta and combine with pesto.

Dinner

Little hamburgers are great for little mouths. I always get grass-fed beef because it is hormone and antibiotic free. In addition, it has more omega-3s and is generally leaner than conventional beef. Sweet potato fries are kid-friendly and pack a punch of vitamin A.

Sliders on Brioche Buns with Sweet Potato Fries

1 lb. grass fed beef

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

12 mini-brioche or small dinner rolls

2 organic tomatoes, sliced

1 head of organic butter lettuce

3 large sweet potatoes

Combine beef with salt, pepper and olive oil in a bowl. Shape into 12 small hamburgers. Heat frying pan to medium. Cook burgers for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve with lettuce, tomato and any desired condiments.

For the sweet potato fries: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cut three large sweet potatoes into fry shape and then toss in olive oil. Arrange fries in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake for about 20-22 minutes.

These recipes were created for a family of four with a healthy appetite for fresh food!

Content by Melissa Matters.