Note: I cooked this dish last week and froze 2 large portions so will be using one of those today along with a jacket potato.

This recipe was given to me by a very dear friend with Spanish roots. It really is the tastiest chilli I’ve tried and quick to make. It’s packed to the rafters with fresh vegetables and is perfect for a mid-week meal that will fill you up and leave you satisfied. See below recipe for how to serve to your child.

GET AHEAD: Chop all veggies the night before (10 mins work)
TEATIME SUGGESTION: Boiled egg and soldiers

Serving suggestion:
- A large dollop of long-term thinking (don’t focus on just one meal)
- A cup of cheerful conversation (no bribery, just connection)
- A pinch of salt (how you should take all food rejection!)
- Lashings of laissez-faire (the less you micro manage, the better)

Serves approx 6-8 servings (I always freeze the leftovers for another meal)

Ingredients:
1 tsbp olive oil
1 red onion
2-3 cloves garlic (crushed)
1/2 - 1 tsp. chilli flakes
500g pack lean beef mince
2 tins chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tin drained kidney beans
3 long skinny peppers / regular ones (chopped and sliced)
1 pack mushrooms (halved or sliced)
Fresh coriander
Spring onions
Red Leicester cheese
Soured cream/natural yoghurt

METHOD:
1. Stir fry the onion, garlic and the chilli in some olive oil until soft (4-5 mins)
2. Add the mince and cook until browned on the outside
3. Add the vegetables, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and tomato puree
4. Leave to simmer for about an hour, or longer if you have time
5. Chop the coriander and spring onions and grate the cheese to serve as accompaniments along with the yoghurt

Great served with a jacket potato or rice

How to serve this meal to your child

Beginner: ‘My child refuses any new meals’

Cook for yourself and reheat some of the sauce and serve alongside your child’s usual meal the next day to use for dunking some bread into. Or you could offer it as a small starter whilst they are waiting for their meal. The great thing about this approach is that you are not cooking specifically for your child, you are giving them leftovers from a meal that you would have cooked anyway, so straightaway there is LESS expectation and pressure. It’s about creating easy opportunities to widen your child’s food list.

Intermediate eater: ‘My child may try this new dish but I’m not sure’

Choose a day when you can eat together. Offer other components your child usually eats so there is no pressure such as rice or a jacket potato and the cheese. If your child isn’t keen on trying any of the chilli, it doesn’t matter, it is better to just be casual about the whole thing and focus on building long-term happy eating habits. it is all about your child getting used to seeing new food and taking it in and also seeing you eat it to give them confidence for future meals. If your child doesn’t eat much, then it is worth factoring in their next meal (lunch or tea) with something more favourable for them to keep the balance!

Advanced eater: ‘My child eats most things I give them and is not phased by new food’.

Serve the new meal and if they unexpectedly do refuse it, the best advice is not to panic and don’t feel bad. It’s just one meal. Say non-confrontational words such as ‘you don’t have to eat anything you don’t want to’ and see if they can try a bit in their own time. If they don’t, it is best to move onto the next mealtime and write it off and try another time!