This is the perfect recipe for when Monday’s got you down and you just need something quick and easy that no one complains about. This is why I love Build Your Own nights. You can do it with almost anything, but giving it a name makes it special and exciting for the little people who’s whole food world mostly exists around your dining table.

My older daughter is still skeptical of melted cheese (I know?!). Leftover trauma from too many “not my favorite” dairy free cheeses, I think. I was hesitant about how nachos would go down. Spoiler: she loved it.

Anything that gives her more control over dinner, she is all for. Is it a few more dishes? Yes. Is it totally worth it to promote independence and choice during mealtime, which will lead to a more adventurous and secure eater? Also yes.

If you have never tried the Build Your Own approach, I highly recommend it. The concept is simple. Keep most of the components separate and place them in little bowls (I love sturdy silicone cupcake liners for this-they’re colorful and easy for toddlers to hold and manipulate). Variety is key. This is a perfect, low-pressure way to introduce new foods. Throw the kimchi, black beans, and spinach that would normally get complains from being on the nachos, into little bowls. That way they don’t have to eat them, but they are still getting high quality, low pressure exposure to the new or “not favorited” food items.

Step 1: line a large sheet pan with aluminum foil.

Step 2: cover the foil in a single layer of tortilla chips.

Step 3: cover those chips in your favorite cheese. If using dairy free, I recommend Violife shreds.

Step 4: broil until cheese is melty.

Step 5: while cheese is melting, warm up toppings and divide.

Step 6: place all available toppings in little bowls (the adults just made their own at the counter). Be creative! We used leftover carnitas, black beans, sour cream, mild salsa, olives, leftover vinaigrette cole slaw, spinach-torn into pieces, and avocado slices.

Step 7: serve portions of nachos with all the toppings on the side with plenty of little spoons (great time to bust out all those baby spoons). Allow your child to top the nachos themselves.

This last step is crucial to allow for the independence portion of this meal to work. Allow them to choose, even if they only eat olives. Or just eat the chips and cheese. We are in this for the long game! I want to raise competent eaters that know how to eat for the rest of their lives, not just choke down spinach because mom is watching. We want to build their confidence in choosing foods, and not villainize their choices.

Note: if you want to influence their choices in a positive manner, modeling is the best approach. Enjoy a wide variety of foods with them at meal and snack time. Teach them ways to make healthy food delicious (we dip roasted Brussels Sprouts in au jus). Share about foods that are not your favorite, but sometimes you enjoy eating them for one aspect of the food (crunchiness, freshness, color, juiciness). Talk about how having different textures and colors on our plate makes us enjoy food more (it really does!).

Happy Nacho Monday!