Easy plant-dense sheet pan meal for kids
I have all kinds of tricks up my sleeve to get kids to explore new foods, or to eat the foods they don’t tend to want to eat. Vegetables can be the tougher food group to get in, not to mention a range of vegetables and colors. One go-to meal in our home is an easy sheet pan bake, complete with plenty of dippable (is that a word?) tots and fries. All you need is 10 minutes of hands-on time and 45 minutes to bake. Voila!
Cauliflower gnocchi is just a few basic ingredients, but mostly cauliflower. I never, EVER prepare according to the package instructions, they just turn out gluey and sticky, and no one wants to eat that. Bake those things. Bake ‘em goooood. No oil necessary on the gnocchi aka “tots” to get them crispy on the outside and tender inside.
The secret to my favorite baked sweet potato fries, however lies in the oil. Use a good toasted sesame oil. Add some onion powder and salt, and anyone would want to devour these alongside their fav dipping sauce.
Keep bags of gnocchi in your freezer and sweet potatoes in your pantry, so when you’re in a pinch you can still give the kids (and yourself) a wholesome, nutrient-rich meal that is still loads of fun to eat!
Ingredients
Cauliflower gnocchi (you choose how much each person will eat)
For the fries: (recipe makes enough for 2-4 child-size servings, depending on the child, wink)
1 large sweet potato
1 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp granulated onion
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. On one half spread the gnocchi evenly, leaving spaces between each individual gnocchi to allow them to crisp.
Cut the sweet potato into fries, about 1/2 inch wide and as long as you want. Add to a bowl, and toss with oil, granulated onion, and salt. Mix well to even disperse all of that good flavor to each fry. Spread fries evenly on the other 1/2 of the sheet pan, also allowing space between fries so they crisp up, instead of steam.
Bake for about 45 minutes, until the gnocchi are golden on the bottom and crisp on the outside, and the fries are crisp outside and tender inside.
Serve with your kid’s favorite dipping sauce, their favorite fruits, nuts, chickpeas, yogurt, or whatever their heart desires!