My Top 5 Favourite Kid-Friendly Lentil Recipes (and highlights of my lentils tour!)

LEARN ABOUT WHY I’M OBSESSED WITH LENTILS, ALL ABOUT MY LENTILS TRIP AND TEST OUT MY TOP 5 FAVE LENTIL RECIPES!

I was hosted by my friends at Canadian Lentils, on a sponsored lentils farm tour trip in Saskatoon in July 2017. As usual, All opinions in this post are my own! 

As a Registered Dietitian and busy mom of three, lentils are so easy for me to love. Lentils are a form of “pulse” (the pulse family includes chickpeas, dried beans, lentils, and dried peas). Not only do they boast a stellar nutritional profile (they are loaded full of protein, fibre, iron, vitamins, and minerals), they’re also economical, super easy and versatile, and provide a nutritious meatless protein alternative. They’re also great for adding to healthy snacks and (surprisingly!) desserts and baked goods (see my recipe for flourless lentil chocolate muffins below).

When I talk about my favourite foods, lentils is always at the top of my list for all of the reasons above. I love that I can throw them into almost any dish, to not only add texture, moisture and flavour, but also boost nutrition. It comes as no surprise that I was thrilled to accept an invitation by Canadian Lentils to farm-to-table lentils farm tour in Saskatoon a couple of weeks ago.

The amazing people at Canadian Lentils treated us on a delicious culinary adventure, where toured Saskatoon lentil farms, got to see how these delicious pulses are grown and processed, and learn all about them (oh, and eat SO. MUCH. AMAZING. FOOD.)

Lentils are not only unbelievably nutritious, but they’re also really trendy right now (I’m crossing my fingers that this lasts!). For 2017-2018, it’s all about “plant-based”, “protein-rich” and “healthy carbohydrates”. More and more, consumers are looking for whole foods that are minimally processed and that promote a health and environmental sustainability. Lentils hit the mark on all of these.

We know that consumption of dried beans, peas and lentils can have a positive impact on diet quality and health, including decreasing the chances of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Check out how lentils stack up nutritionally-speaking when compared to these nutritious whole grains:

Not only this, but lentils are also locally grown for us Canadians! Canada is the world’s leading producer and exporter of lentils (we export to over 130 countries around the world!). Saskatchewan produces 95% of Canada’s lentils!

Along with learning about, eating and cooking with lentils, I was able to meet some pretty amazing fellow dietitians and lentil-lovers, and catch up with some friends and colleagues:

 

My kids and I carefully chose our top 5 favourite lentil recipes for this post. Here they are!

Flourless Lentil Chocolate Muffins 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites 

Sweet and Salty Lentil Chocolate Lentil Granola Bars 

Turkey Lentil Hoisin Lettuce Wraps 

Kid-Friendly & Easy Vegan Lentil Nuggets 

Enjoy 🙂

If you’re looking for more delicious, family-friendly recipes and nutrition tips, check out my Facebook page and Instagram feed, where I post daily!