Sloppy Toms

Remember those messy, meaty, tomatoey Sloppy Joe's of your youth? Maybe they came from a can, maybe you were lucky enough to have them homemade. For a recent "Eating Healthy on a Budget" class, I set out to give that old staple a healthy, budget-friendly make over.

Sloppy Toms

1 lbs        Ground Turkey (preferably organic, pasture-raised)
1                Onion, medium, chopped
1½ C        Crimini mushrooms, sliced
1                Zucchini, medium, shredded (approximately 1½ cups)
2                Carrots, medium, peeled and shredded
1 – 14.5 oz  Can diced or crushed tomatoes* (No Salt Added)
1-2 T          Olive oil
¾ t           Salt
¾ t             Garlic powder
1¾ t            Chili powder
¼ t             Black pepper

Heat 1 T oil in a large skillet or pot on medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and cook until starting to turn clear, stirring frequently. Add ground turkey and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until turkey is mostly browned (3-4 minutes). Add zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, and seasonings. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-12 minutes, until sauce begins to thicken.

Serve the old fashioned way on whole-grain buns, or spoon it over a heap of sweet potato oven fries or cauliflower rice. 

* Canned goods often use BPA, a known endocrine-disrupting chemical, in the inner lining of the cans. To avoid it, choose organic varieties, or brands that have pledged not to use this chemical.