On The Menu: Power Bowl from Goodfood.
It’s (finally) February and we’re finding ourselves craving healthy eats and freshly picked produce. The problem: it’s only mid-winter (ugh, I know,) and the farm stands won’t be opening for another two months or so. Lucky for us, in comes Mattituck’s Goodfood. Café and Market fresh off their winter break. While we adults may have no problem noshing on greens and good-for-you items, our kiddos might not always feel the same leading us to the dreaded kids’ menu with chicken nuggs and French fries aplenty. (Not to knock the kids’ chicken Milanese that you’ll find on Goodfood.’s menu, it’s darn delicious.) But if you hope to also get some plant-based power into their body we head to the café’s regular menu for that. Meet the Goodfood. Power Bowl. A perfectly balanced meal that you can affectionately refer to as a “rainbow bowl” if it helps pique your kid’s desire to eat it.
The Components
Within this power-packed bowl, you’ll find a rotating gluten-free grain, black beans, sauteed greens (often baby bok choy), roasted vegetables (often sweet potatoes and zucchini), and avocado, all topped with a poached egg and served with optional sauces such as house-made Chimichurri — which if we’re being honest here, I always keep for myself. Your kid also has the option to add an additional protein such as grilled chicken, grilled salmon, or spiced tofu if they’re feeling extra hungry. None of the bowl’s components are over-spiced or heavily seasoned but instead, simply prepared allowing the ingredients’ flavors to shine and not overwhelming the young pallet.
The Presentation
I don’t know about your kids, but mine, ages 6 and 2.5, still prefer the components of their meals to be very clearly identifiable — AKA, not all mixed together, ever. The Power Bowl checks that box with each element neatly in its own space within the bowl (except the egg, however, I’m sure you could ask for that on the side if it’s a dealbreaker.) Since the sauce pick is served on the side, the dish is never saucy looking, which also helps your kid to identify exactly what they’re eating and encourages them to pick their favorite bites in the order which they please.
The Dig In
For the non-picky eaters, they may gladly wolf this down with zero help from you. But with my Petite crew, especially the youngest member, we sometimes will talk about colors and play the game: Find something black, orange, green, etc., etc. And before we know it, the bowl is empty and their bellies are full of nutrient-dense foods that I feel great feeding them. AND we also snuck in a no-pressure color lesson. WIN, WIN!
Goodfood. is located at 535 Pike St., Mattituck. The Power Bowl can be found on the main menu where it costs $14.95+. Visit gfperiod.com to view their complete menus and hours of operation.
About On The Menu:
Aaaaaah, the Kids’ Menu. The place where your child immediately becomes a picky eater, adamantly claiming that they only eat chicken fingers or grilled cheese sandwiches even though you know their appetite once craved something more. And we get it… some days it's just not worth the fight. But on the rare occasion that you brought not only every Melissa & Doug item known to mankind but also the will to tackle expanding your kid’s pallet to flavors beyond that tiny and limiting menu curated just for them, we’ve got some suggestions for you. On The Menu promises to be your trusted partner, curating items found on the regular menu from restaurants across the North Fork that are kid-tested and approved.
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