I know I’m a week late, but somehow this post never made it up last week, and our Halloween eats were more interesting than our Election Day eats. I’m linking up with Jenn at Peas and Crayons for What I ate Wednesday and Brittany for Munchkin Meals. Hop over there to see more daily eats posts!
On Halloween morning, we had a bright and early breakfast in pajamas. L chose a whole grain blueberry waffle with peanut butter and sliced banana and I had oatmeal with almond butter, banana, mila and cinnamon (unpictured.) Thanks to our new big girl bed, wake time is earlier these days and naps are skipped every few days. It’s lots of fun.
We spent the morning at the Y with friends. They have an open gym time for kids in the morning, after which I got in a quick workout while she went to the play room with one of her best buddies.
We came home hungry and threw together a quick, random lunch. I had leftover stuffed peppers, and L had veggies and hummus, avocado cubes and a Stonyfield yogurt. We shared a plate of apple slices. (Do you know how hard it is to capture a toddler’s eats? This girl cannot pause before digging in!)
After nap time and a snack (trail mix of kashi cereal and raisins), we did a few craft projects, including a q-tip tree we found on pinterest and a few little pom-pom critters.
In an effort to add something festive to our day, we decided to make pumpkin shaped pizzas for dinner. The pumpkins were far from perfect, but L had a blast helping.
She was not interested in the eggplant, and carefully pulled hers off before eating. She’s gotten much pickier with veggies the last six months, but still loves frozen peas!
After dinner, some friends joined us for a bit of trick or treating.
L was losing steam toward the end, but had a good time. She knew she could pick out one treat when we got home, and went for a tiny blueberry lollipop. If she knew what was inside of the Reese’s pb cups and Snickers wrappers, I have a feeling her choice would have been different! I helped myself to a treat or two after she was in bed. 
Since I’ve been sharing pancakes and cookie dough balls all month, I’ll leave you with the Veggie Stuffed Pepper recipe. We threw them together based on ingredients we had on hand, and they were really yummy!
Veggie Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (print recipe)
- 1 c. uncooked quinoa
- 2 c. water, veggie broth or chicken broth
- 1 can kidney beans, or 2 cups cooked
- 1 can diced tomatoes (we love Muir Glen)
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 3/4 c. fresh or frozen corn
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano (or 2 Tbsp fresh)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 c. fresh cilantro
- 1/2 c. to 1 c. shredded sharp cheddar or feta cheese
- 4 bell peppers, stems removed and cut in half
Cook quinoa in a saucepan in water or broth until soft, about 15 minutes. While it cooks, core and halve the peppers and lay them in the bottom of a lightly greased 9×13 pan.
Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl and allow it to cool slightly. Add the remaining ingredients through cilantro and combine. Stir in a small handful of cheese and fill the peppers with the mixture.
Bake peppers at 375 for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and finish baking for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese melts and peppers are soft.
What veggies will your kids gladly eat? What did you do with all your Halloween candy?
I have no idea why I never stuff pepper. I really love them. I think some kidney bean made it into by cart during my massive re-fuel trip… need to do these!
I wouldn’t eat AN veggies as a kid unless they were drenched in ranch. My mom says that’s why I’m so short – lack of nutrients stunted my growth. LOL!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Semi-Normal Eats + WIAW
I’d love to see what you’d come up with for stuffed peppers! Your childhood veggie story gives me hope.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
She is SO cute! And your comment about how much fun it is to have less sleep going on in the house made me laugh…we’ve all been there!
Those stuffed peppers look amazing. Got to try them.
My kids are really pretty good eaters, my son especially. Now, that doesn’t mean they haven’t been inhaling their Halloween candy, but…
misszippy recently posted..Walk in another’s shoes
I was a veggie eating oddball kid LOL. No wonder I ended up being a vegetarian. I loved spinach and even Brussels sprouts! And quinoa is the best for using as a stuffing isn’t it?
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..Running Weekend
It is! I love how versatile quinoa is. Wow, a veggie-loving kid, that’s inspiring!
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
Mmmm, I love stuffed peppers. I’ve tried a few different ones, and they’re all just a fun way to dress up something I add to almost every meal. haha
Speaking of dress up, she’s adorable!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers recently posted..Meatless Mexican WIAW
Yummy peppers! My daughter is the only of our four kids who loves peppers. But all of them will eat spinach, carrots, and broccoli with no problem.
Yo Momma Runs recently posted..Voting and a giveaway winner
We’re going through an anti-green phase here… spinach and broccoli are refused unless they’re hidden somehow. That’s great that your kids are so easy going!
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
I love stuffed peppers!!! Yum, yum, yum! I haven’t made them in forever, but my mom used to make them all the time.
Tasha @ Healthy Diva recently posted..Wheels are turning
My mom made them all the time, too! Usually meat and rice inside green peppers, so it’s fun trying new fillings.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
my favorite thing to make when i was little was mini pizzas with mom. love this!
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted..If I Could Just Politely Ask…
Aww, what fun memories!
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
Great eats as always! Peas were one of my oldes’s few veggies. I think she had more fun sticking them up her nose though. Haha!
Marcia recently posted..October Rehash
We let the kiddos have a Reese’s PB each. They were looking for more in the morning but they were all gone.
A has always been picky about veggies while L is a little bit more adventurous.
Love stuffed peppers! Kids won’t touch ‘em but hubs and I will gladly eat their share!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Hills
Your daughter is SO cute! Love all the pics. Thanks for the fun food ideas too. Love them!
Love the pumpkin pizzas! And such an adorable Elmo : )
Michelle recently posted..We Now Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming
halloween is looking so cute! and the site of the qtip art – I’ve been there before. Love that it is in italian. Cute ideas!!
N.D. recently posted..Meal planning link up! and reality check
What a fun and busy day! And what a cutie she is in her costume. My kids are stealing candy left and right, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dog is finding wrappers and eating them. It’s chaos! With tons of candy left. I’m going to have to get rid of some!
Joann @ Woman in Real Life recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday and The Simply Bar Giveaway
I am thankful that L can’t reach it! My husband took a bagful to work, and I’ve been letting her pick one a day… and today got rid of the rest.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
Ooh yummmmm!
Love all the pics! so cute!
Kierston recently posted..WIAW: Post-Competition Celebration Eats!
First of all, your daughter is the cutest little gal! Love the pic of her with the lollipop
Also, those peppers look dynamite and are so gorgeously colorful! Yum yum yum!
MassachusEATS recently posted..WIAW #38
Aww, thanks so much, for both!
Your pumpkin pizzas make me ridiculously happy! And so does that art project. I did a similar one with my art class last year and taught them about pointilism.
L might be the next Georges Seurat!
She is to CUTE!!! My son, Zac LOVES Sweet Potato like LOVES and mashed squash too. AsZac received Trick or Treat candy I dumped it into the bucket of candy that I had filled to pass out. I let him keep a few pieces and that was it. All of the food looks great, must try the peppers.
Tera Norberg recently posted..Pumpkins, Apples, and Country Crock
mmm all of your photos/food look so delicious I want to eat them! Love your little elmo. Looks like you had a great day!
We didn’t get too much candy (thank goodness). I need to try your recipe! Everything looks delicious!
Farrah @ Fairy Healthy Life recently posted..Food And More Food!
The stuffed peppers look so yummy! Your little elmo is adorable! I can’t wait until next year when we can take our little guy trick or treating. He was still a little too young this year. He is a great eater but can be picky with his veggies.
Giselle@ahealthyhappyhome recently posted..WIAW
Veggies can be so tricky! She used to eat anything we gave her, but loves having a say these days which makes it hard.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
What a fun day!!!
Kelly recently posted..Sunsets: a Not So Wordless Wednesday
How cute is she! And all those eats looks fun. LOL! It looks like you guys had a great day.
Tiffany recently posted..So How Are You Feeling?
My 2 teens are anti-veggie right now. Ugh! I just made the most amazing stuffed peppers last week and guess what the main stuffing was. Quinoa! Great minds
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..To Run or Not To Run?
Oh, I forgot that this could come and go in phases all the way into the teen years… fun fun! How funny about the stuffed peppers!
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
She’s a doll! I just started experimenting with quinoa, so I will have to try this recipe! My husband is skeptical to “healthy” foods… Trying to switch him from white bread to whole grain has been like trying to get a kid to eat their veggies. Maybe worse! lol Thanks for the recipe!! I love how high in protein quinoa is! Very good for my little guy.
Laura @ Close Families recently posted..Munchkin Meals: Challenges
That sounds like my dad.
Change is hard! In that case, sometimes adding in healthy things is easier than trying to convince someone to cut out something. Good luck! I’m lucky that my husband will eat anything, although he won’t turn down wings, pizza and beer if it’s offered. 
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
Omg she is adorable!!! and at least you tried putting the veggies on there. She’ll come around
Lynda @ Hit The Road Jane recently posted..Election Hatred Goes Too Far
L and her friends are so cute! I love her costume!
I have a feeling she would have picked a different candy too! Although I did use to like those lollipops.
Jamie @ couchtoironwoman recently posted..Running Scenes Instagram Style
Such a cutie Elmo!! Thank you for this quinoa recipe. I was just looking for a new one to try and love stuffed peppers. PS – can I come over for dinner? Your meals look much more interesting than mine!!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Stir crazy boys
You know you are welcome anytime. If only we weren’t a flight away.
Did I tell you my husband will be in your neck of the woods for an interview soon?
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
No! Tell him good luck. It’d be fun to have you guys around here!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Friday Round-Up: Tonsils and Chobani
The only veggie Alma (9 months) will willingly eat right now is freeze dried peas. She used to eat broccoli, sweet potato, and carrots, but she’s on a veggie strike. Grrr!
kim @ vegan mama recently posted..baby led weaning: challenges
I hate veggie strikes! Hope it passes soon.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
I love stuffed peppers and these look great! I also really love the mini-pizzas- what a creative idea!
Thanks, Brittany! It turned into a bit of a mess, but we both had fun so it was worth it.
Laura recently posted..Halloween eats and Quinoa Veggie Stuffed Peppers
LOVE LOVE LOVE those pumpkin pizzas! Too cute! I will have to do these for my own kiddos very soon
And the quinoa stuffed peppers sound lovely. I am adding to my menu plan for next week 
Fabulous!
Lilah recently posted..Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower
Sounds like you guys had a fun day! Love the pumpkin pizzas!! L looked soo cute as Elmo
I can get Miss Bean to eat potatoes which are not the healthiest veggies but it works for now.
Kris recently posted..My First "Real" Spin Class
Seems like you are having so much fun last Halloween with your kiddos and that is truly great. By the way I love those pumpkin pizzas!
Maris King recently posted..Doors Made In Solid Timber