Everyone gather around and grab the guac.
For years, everyone has enjoyed a good Taco Tuesday or fiesta night. Not only are tacos and Tex-Mex an easy-to-make crowd-pleaser, but they can also be easily made to be vegan, gluten-free, hypo-allergenic and sensory-sensitive.
If your kiddo is raring to go for some guac, scroll down to see our favorite recipes. If you need a little extra help getting taco Tuesday in your kiddo's belly, check out the helpful information below.
Desensitizing Dinner
Eating is a highly sensory experience. A lot of kiddos with autism or special needs tend to be picky eaters not just because they don't like the way things taste, but because they aren't fond of, or used to, the sensory experience of whatever it is that they're consuming.
Desensitizing your loved ones to the olfactory and tactile experience of the food they are about to consume is a great way to introduce them to new foods. Here are a few things to try:
For younger kids, let them play with their food. Yes, this is every parent's worst nightmare. In fact, many cinematic depictions of families have a parent being adamant about "don't play with your food." Trust us, let them get their hands dirty exploring all the new experiences of what they're about to consume before they put it in their mouth. According to occupational therapist Emily Martin, it's a big help.
If your kiddo is a bit older, have them lend a hand in the kitchen. Not only is your kiddo learning valuable life skills, but it also gives them a chance to interact with the food better and allows them to take pride in what they made... which might make it easier to get them to eat it. Tacos are a great place to start, especially because cooking things like guacamole don't require heat. Heck, even a little kiddo can mash an avocado, no big deal.
Jump around
Sometimes, feeding a child's sensory cravings just before dinner is the best way to get them to eat. Have your kiddo drop and give you 20 (pushups, jumping jacks, or otherwise). This can help get their sensory cravings out of the way before the munchies hit.
For kids who do more wiggling at the dinner table than eating, tried-and-true solutions like cushions that allow for movement, foot fidgets, or a washable weighted lap pad. A little extra sensory input could go a long way toward a better mealtime for everyone.
If a child has limited dexterity or mobility, getting them the proper dining utensils is essential. Taco Tuesday is better when every human bean can eat together.
Guacamole
- 3 large ripe avocados
- ¼ white onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons (or more) fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
Mash up your avocados and toss in your mix-ins.
Fajitas
Whether you're making fajitas from meat or veggies, they're easy and fun. For extremely easy, no brainer fajitas, all you have to do is purchase a packet of low-sodium taco seasoning and sprinkle that, along with some olive oil, over ground beef, chicken, or julienned bell peppers.
If you want to make them from scratch, check out our recipe adapted from Taste of Home
Ingredients for fajita seasoning
- 4 tablespoons canola oil
- The juice from 1 lemon
- The juice from 1 lime
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional if you want a little bit of spicy)
- 1 teaspoon of TajÃn seasoning
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
Directions
Combine all of your seasonings in a bowl and toss in your chosen fajita contents (meat or veggies) and hand-toss to combine. Place on a stove-top skillet over medium-head and cook until browned.
Cilantro-lime rice
This is a great recipe that won't hurt your tummy, and it goes alongside everything well. We've taken a page off Chipotle's notebook for this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra long-grain white rice
- The juice of half a lime
- 2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions
In a pot, add all ingredients. Cook over medium-high heat until boiling, and then simmer over medium heat until all the water has evaporated. Stir occasionally. Rest for five minutes and serve.
Beans
Lucky for you, this is the easiest thing to make! You only need three ingredients.
Ingredients
- Black or pinto beans, 1 can
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- A pinch of salt
Directions
Drain the beans of your choice, put them in a pot, and add broth until beans are filled. Add a pinch of salt for extra flavor. Heat until warmed.
Serve it up
Whether you decide that the burrito bowl is the best course of action or some soft tacos tickle your fancy, these are the best recipes for an inclusive Taco Tuesday! And now for a limited time, you can make sure your dining utensils ensure an inclusive fiesta for every human bean by taking 10% off the Adaptive Dining category at eSpecialNeeds.com.
