Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RD and Liz Weiss, MS, RD, Co-authors, The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers
The Meal Makeover Moms have created a series of online videos featuring cooking demonstrations and mealtime/pantry tips. Discover easy ways to improve your family's diet by watching more of their how-to videos.
Pulled Pork Primavera Sandwiches
Makes 6 to 8 Servings
2 to 2 1/2 pounds pork loin or tenderloin, trimmed of all visible fat
1 large carrot, shredded (about 1 cup)
1 large red bell pepper, finely diced
1 medium onion, diced
One 12-ounce jar all-natural barbeque sauce
6 to 8 whole wheat hamburger buns
Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
When the meat is done, place it on a cutting board and, using two forks, pull the meat into shredded pieces.
Place the meat back in the slow cooker and mix with the sauce (the vegetables virtually disappear). Serve on the hamburger buns.
Tip: Serve with cole slaw on the side.
Nutrition Information per Serving: 440 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated), 50g carbohydrates, 4g fiber, 620mg sodium, 33g protein, 50% vitamin A, 80% vitamin C
Kitchen Notes
• Sweet bell peppers start out green but as they ripen on the vine, they get milder, sweeter, and more colorful. Depending on the variety, peppers can turn orange, red, yellow, purple, or brown. But no matter what their color, peppers are packed with nutrition. Each pepper has about 3 grams of fiber, and only 40 calories. Their vitamin C content outshines oranges and grapefruit. In addition, red peppers have the same amount of vitamin A as half a dozen baby carrots.
• This is the perfect meal for bringing family and friends together. If you’re having a hard time carving out the time for a regular family dinner hour, try our tips and tricks to make family dinners more doable:
Make it a Habit: They always say habits are hard to break so make family meals a habit and you’ll stick with them for a lifetime.
Plan Meals Ahead of Time: If 5:00pm is meltdown time at your house, cooking dinner may be tough. To ease your stress, prepare meals ahead of time (perhaps during naptime), or get your slow cooker going in the morning, so the dinner hour is more tranquil.
Be Flexible: If you can’t all gather for dinner, consider eating breakfast together. Or if one child has an evening baseball game, pack a picnic dinner and eat at the park.
Turn Off the TV: TV is a distraction and takes the focus away from the family. Switch off the tube and keep the conversation flowing.
