Black Bean Taco Lunch Box For Baby And Toddler
Table of Contents
Black Bean Bento Box
Black beans are a favourite in our home, my son really enjoys them and always finishes anything to do with beans!
Beans are so nutritious, and the good thing is they are full of protein which make beans a great substitute if your little one is following a plant based diet. Or if you’re looking for a meat free meal with all the protein that meat has then beans are a winner!
I’ve taken all the elements you’d expect from a Mexican restaurant but made it an easy recipe and completely child friendly, from 6 months of age to the entire family.
Benefits Of Black Beans
Black beans are a great choice for babies starting on solid foods, particularly for baby-led weaning (BLW). These legumes are not only rich in protein, fibre, and iron but also contain essential nutrients like folate, potassium, and antioxidants.
Introducing black beans early on can help babies develop a diverse palate and a love for nutritious food. The soft texture of black beans makes them easy for little ones to grasp and chew, promoting their fine motor skills.
The natural mild flavour of black beans can be easily incorporated into various BLW recipes, providing a versatile ingredient for you to experiment with during this exciting stage of a baby's feeding journey.
The Benefits Of Avocado
The avocado works so perfectly with lime and fresh coriander so I had to include! And the tomato salsa works so nicely with all the elements or eaten on its own!
Packed with healthy fats, fibre, and essential vitamins and minerals, making an avocado a perfect option to support a baby's growth and development.
The creamy texture of avocado makes it easy for babies to grasp and makes it perfect finger foods for baby to self-feed, promoting their fine motor skills. Additionally, avocados are gentle on the digestive system and can help regulate bowel movements.
Introducing avocado early on can also help babies develop a taste for healthy foods and establish good eating habits for the future. With its versatility and nutritional benefits, avocado is indeed a wonderful addition to a BLW journey.
Great For On The Go
The best part is this would be so good if you’re out for the day and you needed to take something yummy and nutritious for a lunch stop!
Or you could make this ahead of time and have a really nice surprise for your little one!
The stone fruit stars are perfect as a little treat alongside the bento box! I used some star cutters to make the fruit fun, but you can chop anyway you like! A great way to get your kids to eat fruit!
Your little one will really enjoy getting involved with this bento box as you can eat and serve it in so many different ways! Great for those picky eaters.
You could even make a second for yourself too, as a fun, yummy, delicious lunch!
I really enjoyed making this bento box, I knew my son would enjoy it too! This is a great meal on the go for both lunch and for dinner!
The great thing about it is that it can be dipped, wrapped or eaten separately. Great for baby-led weaning! Not only that it is salt free, flavoured with spices! An easy way to get your baby to try new flavours.
I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did for your whole family!
Ingredient information
Black beans - black beans are so tasty and are full of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They are so yummy as a main ingredient in this recipe.
Ground cumin - A perfect combination with black beans. I always make sure I have cumin in the cupboard.
Ground coriander- A perfect combination with cumin, and makes the black beans so tasty.
Garlic powder - I love garlic powder, and is less subtle than fresh garlic, but so flavoursome at the same time, and not only that you don’t have to peel it!
Lime juice - Lime is so fresh! And adds the acidity the black beans need!
Avocado oil- I love to use avocado oil in recipes where possible. Healthy fats, a great alternative to olive oil if you have it!
Salad cheese - This is very similar to feta cheese, I actually prefer It and it’s a bit cheaper. Use cheddar cheese from 6 months old.
Tortilla - The mini tortillas are so perfect for baby led weaning. They are small for tiny tummies, so you’re not wasting so much!
Avocado - Avocados are great for weaning. They are full of nutrients and work so well with the lime and coriander.
Coriander leaves - You don’t need that many leaves, so this can be left out. But it is tasty with.
Cherry tomatoes - I always have some cherry tomatoes in my fridge, they are so versatile and work with so many recipes!
Cucumber- I also always have cucumber in the fridge as a staple too! A refreshing side to this recipe.
Fresh fruit - I love stone fruit, and so does my son. It is a nice change from the usual fruit that is bought!
Serving suggestion
The bento box is perfect to be served as it is. If you wanted to serve it with additional sides of shredded lettuce and grated carrot this would work so nicely together.
Other great bento box recipes: Cheese puff, Egg salad or Giant cous cous.
Another black bean recipe, A veggie burger: Black bean burger.
Storage instructions
The bento box can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The black beans can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days with the cheese.
The only element that can be frozen are the black beans, without the cheese for up to 2 months.
To defrost the black beans, leave in the fridge overnight until fully thawed.
Once defrosted, the black beans will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Equipment Used To Help With This Recipe
Nutri bullet - I have found a blender to be an invaluable tool in the preparation of many of my baby led weaning recipes.
Large bowl - Definitely choose a stainless steel one - they are lighter than the stone or glass ones and very easy to clean.
Airtight container - I love the non-stick surface of this particular frying pan and it’s suitable for all types of hob.
Recipe | Black Bean Taco Lunch Box For Baby And Toddler
Makes 1 little lunch
Smashed black beans
1 can 400g black beans
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 lime
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 teaspoon salad cheese, sprinkling
1 mini tortilla
Avocado salsa
1/2 avocado
2 leaves of coriander
1/4 lime, squeezed
Tomato salsa
3 cherry tomatoes, sliced into quarters
2 slices cucumber, cubed
Fruit Stars
1/2 nectarine, sliced
1/2 plum, sliced
1 mini tortilla
Instructions
For the smashed black beans, pop all the “smashed black beans” ingredients (not the cheese) into a food processor or blender, and pulse until mixed! You can add a little water if you wanted a very smooth texture.
Place about a tablespoon full into the bento box and sprinkle with the cheese.
For the avocado salsa, chop the avocado into pieces and place into a bowl and squeeze over the lime and add the coriander and mix. Place in a compartment in the bento box.
For the tomato salsa mix the cucumber and tomato and place in the bento box.
Add the mini tortilla to the bento box next to the black beans.
Cut the stars of fruit and place in a jar or airtight container.
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
If you didn’t have black beans, you could use kidney beans or pinto beans, both would work really well!
If you wanted to mash the avocado instead of the slices, this would work well!
You could always add in a little brown rice instead of the taco if you prefer.
You could use nutritional yeast instead of the salad cheese the perfect way to serve to your baby if they are following a dairy free or vegan diet.
©The Petit Spoon
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