The Easter season has arrived and so have all the brightly colored baskets and easter bunnies. Kids love this time of year for egg hunts and treats but Easter is more than that, it’s one of the holiest seasons. Do you guys celebrate Easter? And by celebrate, I mean participate in the full Lent season? Our family does.
We love hunting for the plastic eggs and look forward to finding baskets left from the bunny but we also try and follow the traditional sacrifices. Not eating meat or going meatless on Fridays is probably the main one. It’s only one day and it brings the Lent season into our thoughts and actions on a weekly basis. I think this is a great time to teach the kids about what a sacrifice is and provides a great life lesson about self discipline. I know my sons are only 6 (soon to be 7) and 3, but I want them to learn early that life isn’t always easy and for some it can be a struggle. My son’s school actively participates in taking collections for local food pantries, women’s shelters and accepting donations for the less fortunate. It’s one thing give to others but as a child I think it sends a stronger message when they themselves are asked to sacrifice something. Lent is a great time to teach that.
But before we talk about quinoa sloppy joe’s, there’s something a little silly that I don’t understand and have to mention…
Traditional states: you’re not supposed to eat meat on Fridays but fish is OK.
I might be wrong but…
I have to be be honest regarding Lent, in the past we haven’t always gone meatless each Friday. But for good reasons… I’ve mentioned it before but I have to again; my husband is allergic to chicken.
Yes.
Chicken.
That’s a real allergy….Creating ONE dinner everyone can safely eat can be very challenging.
Add my other children’s allergies like soy and fish and essentially we lost the most common proteins staples. For many families, it can be a struggle to convince kids to eat nutritious foods (vegetables) outside of chicken nuggets and pizza. The quinoa is no different. It has a mild taste that blends well with just about anything, but nothing that excites the kids (or my husband for that matter.) One thing they all love and do get excited for are: Sloppy Joe’s. And now believe it or not, Quinoa Sloppy Joe’s!
Imagine my delight when they accepted these healthier quinoa sloppy joe’s that don’t sacrifice flavor. And it’s so easy! Just cook the quinoa and toss the rest of the ingredients together. Another thing I love about these quinoa sloppy joe’s, is how quinoa is packed full of protein- 6 grams in 1/4 cup or 24 grams of protein in 1 cup (uncooked).
You won’t miss the real meal in here!
Do you go meatless for Lent? What are some meals you create not using meat?
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water or broth
- ¾ cup ketcup
- 3 T gluten free soy sauce (I used my GF soy-free sauce)
- ½ onion
- 2 T oil
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 fresh garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp molasses
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- !Gluten Free Buns
- Wash quinoa thoroughly in a mesh strainer. Cook according to directions on package with 2 cups of water.
- Dice onion and sauté with oil in a another pan on medium high heat until onions become soft.
- Add remaining ingredients to onions including cooked quinoa. Mix until incorporated.
- Serve with your favorite gluten free bun. (I used my
- soft gluten free hamburger buns.)
For more great meatless Lent ideas and recipes be sure to follow Pick ‘n Save on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
Some other things you may like:
Soft Gluten Free Hamburger Buns- egg free dairy free
Dairy Free Mac N Cheese- Gluten Free, Vegan, soy free
Chap Chae (Korean Glass Noodles)- gluten free, vegan
Chubby Easter Bunnies (gluten free egg free Vegan)- dye free
Edible Easter Grass- dye free, all natural
Hello, I’m Laura! Thanks for stopping by… I hope this blog will help you or someone you know and love. 
Your soy sauce is not vegan, it uses chicken broth. Is there a substitute for the chicken broth?
Tamari is a gluten-free and vegan soy sauce (still made from soy beans). Taste is nearly identical.
this looks like a good recipe but it isn’t gluten free and vegan unless you substitute some things. You can make it gluten free by using tamari (if you aren’t allergic to soy) in place of the homemade EASY GLUTEN FREE SOY FREE SOY SAUCE. Or you can sub veggie broth for the chicken broth in the EASY GLUTEN FREE SOY FREE SOY SAUCE recipe. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Hopefully my picky eater will go for it!
Hi Lisa,
So glad you’ll try the recipe! I am a bit confused as to why you think it is not gluten free or vegan as written…Quinoa is gluten free as well as the ketchup, broth and homemade gluten free bun used. My son is allergic to gluten and had no problems.
If you use chicken broth or beef broth for the soy free soy sauce recipe (that you link to in the recipe) that automatically makes this not vegan.
Made this for my wife today and she said it was a keeper!