Our Plant-Rich Meals are designed to be some of your baby's first foods—with options to purée, mash, or serve as finger food. Just as your child's appetite and confidence with food grow, so can our meals adapt. Pair with a protein of choice, add seasonings and spices, serve as a side dish, or use them as the base for a more filling recipe.

We asked Ashley Walterhouse of Fit Mitten Kitchen to demonstrate this flexibility using one of our most popular Plant-Rich Meals: Black Bean, Red Pepper, Sweet Potato & Cilantro. Using ingredients you probably have on hand, here are 3 easy, satiating recipes your kids will love. 

Veggie Quesadilla

Serves 2–4

Ingredients 

• 1 Once Upon a Farm Black Bean, Red Pepper, Sweet Potato & Cilantro Meal
• 2 fajita-size tortillas
• Shredded cheese of choice
• Additional toppings or dippings of choice: sour cream or greek yogurt, salsa, avocado, etc.

Directions

1. Cook Plant-Rich Meal according to package instructions.
2. Take 2 tortillas and evenly distribute Black Bean, Red Pepper Sweet Potato Meal to each half of the tortilla shell. Top with shredded cheese and press half down.
3. Add a little oil or butter to a medium skillet over medium heat; add folded tortillas and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, or until golden and cheese is melted.
4. Remove from heat and transfer to a cutting board and slice quesadilla into triangles or strips; serve with your favorite toppings and sides such as sour cream, avocado, and tomatoes.

Pasta Salad

Serves 2–4 

Ingredients

• 1 Once Upon a Farm Black Bean, Red Pepper, Sweet Potato & Cilantro Meal
• 1.5 cups cooked rotini pasta
• ⅓ cup canned corn
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• 3 tablespoons diced red onion
• 1 small avocado, chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 lime

Directions

1. Cook Plant-Rich Meal according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta according to package instructions.
3. As the pasta is cooking, rinse and drain corn, dice tomatoes and red onion, chop avocado into small chunks; set aside.
4. After pasta is drained, transfer to a medium bowl and toss with extra virgin olive oil. Add corn, diced tomatoes, red onion, avocado, and cooked Plant-Rich Meal. Gently stir to combine and finish with lime juice.

Note: Feel free to substitute or omit ingredients for your little one’s taste buds.

Southwest Egg Bites

Serves 6–8

Ingredients

• 1 Once Upon a Farm Black Bean, Red Pepper, Sweet Potato & Cilantro Meal
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons milk of choice
• ¼ cup shredded cheese
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt*
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

*Omit salt if child is under 1 or per your pediatrician's recommendation.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF and add mini silicone muffin liners to pan; lightly grease and set aside.
2. Cook Plant-Rich Meal according to package instructions.
3. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, milk, shredded cheese, spices, salt, pepper, and cooked Plant-Rich Meal until fully combined.
4. Evenly distribute mixture into greased muffin pan, filling almost to the top—you should get about 16 cups filled.
5. Bake mini egg cups for 10–12 minutes, until middle is set. Allow eggs to cool in pan for 5–10 minutes before gently removing.

Note: silicone muffin liners are highly recommended for easier removal.