This Build Your Own Burrito bar recipe is a simple, healthy and fun family style dinner that everyone will love, even picky toddlers.
A few weeks ago I felt like dinner time had become a battle. Specifically dinner time with two toddlers.
If you had asked me then if I’d rather stand in line at the DMV or prepare dinner for my family, I’d grab my keys and head to the DMV in a heartbeat.
One simple change became my saving grace – Family Style Dinner
Instead of plating the kid’s meals in the kitchen and then bringing them to the table, I started bringing the meal to the table and letting everyone serve themselves.
It may sound too simple, but serving meals family style has become a lifesaver in our house at dinner time.
In order for family style to work for us, I used the following as our template to make meal time enjoyable.
Family Style Dinner Guidelines
- Everyone serves themselves from the options on the table
- If I am offering a new dish, I pair it with a known favorite so that if someone doesn’t like it, there is something on the table I know they’ll eat
- If you put something on your plate you have to at least try a bite
- You eat as much as you want but you have to stay at the table until everyone is done eating
The last guideline has been a big help with my 2 year old son. He will typically take a few bites and declare he is done with dinner. However, I’ve noticed that he’ll continue picking at his food (even after he says he is finished) while he is sitting at the table waiting for the rest of the family to finish dinner.
Build Your Own Burritos – Family Style Dinner Idea
One of our all time favorite family style dinners has become Build Your Own Burritos. Everyone chooses their own toppings to put on their burritos and the kids get a kick out of building their own dinner.
The recipe is simple: Black Beans or Chicken/Steak/Fish, Tortillas, Toppings, and Taco flavored Greek Yogurt (simply mix this taco seasoning blend with greek yogurt).
Segmented tray purchased for $4!
To make it even easier on myself, I took a large segmented tray that was designed for veggie platters (like this one) and filled it with different toppings (cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, avocado, etc). I simply put the platter on the table and served the additional ingredients on the side.
The best part…simply cover the leftover toppings, place in the fridge and pull it out again the next day for lunch or a repeat dinner. So simple.
Build Your Own Burrito
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
- 4 to rtillas
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 2 to matoes chopped
- 1 can black olives drained and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/2 cup cheese shredded
- 1 avocado diced
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt plain
- 1 tsp homemade taco seasoning https://thedomesticdietitian.com/homemade-spice-mixes/
Instructions
- Warm the black beans over medium heat in a small sauce pan on the stove
- Combine the greek yogurt and taco seasoning in a small bowl and mix well
- Place all other ingredients in a platter or serving dish
- Assemble burritos by layering chosen ingredients on tortilla and topping with taco flavored greek yogurt. Or skip the tortilla and layer over chopped lettuce to create a burrito bowl
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What is your favorite family style dinner? Comment below, I’m in need of ideas!
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The introduction of a new food really works! I liked having the platter for leftovers too!
Thanks dan!
What a delicious spread! So many colors! 🙂 Great idea Brynn!
thanks Jessica!
Great idea! Love this! I’ve done this when I have “picky eater” guests coming over for dinner, too!
Thanks Stacey, Build Your Own… is such a great tool for picky eaters!
That is so genius for small kids! Love this!
Thanks so much Betsy!
So much for and creativity for the family. All ingredients look so fresh and inviting and these pics of your kids are adorable!
Thanks so much Lauren! The kids love when they get to use a serving spoon themselves…the little things.
Love family style eating and a great way to involve kids! Thanks for the tips!
Thank you so much Abbey!
This is a brilliant idea! Love the photos of the kiddos too!
Thanks Catherine, my kids love to be “on the blog”.
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