Foodie Friday: Lettuce-wrapped tacos

Lettuce-wrapped tacos - Copyright 2012 Michelle Loy, MPH, MS, RD, CSSD - Go Wellness

What do you get when you cross a person who loves to try new recipes with a little guy with newly discovered food allergies and sensitivities?  Me trying even MORE new recipes!  My poor little guy has suffered from eczema for some time, and after conducting a special diet and allergy testing, I've finally discovered that there are several trigger foods.  One of those items includes dairy, which means milk, yogurt, and cheese.  Because of this, I am really going outside of the box to find new ways to create some traditional faves in my home.  That's when I stumbled upon these lettuce-wrapped tacos.  No dairy!  The cabbage slaw adds a nice tangy, sweet flavor and freshness to the 'taco'.  This is the perfect way to 'wrap' up your summer;)  Enjoy!

Lettuce-wrapped Tacos

Adapted from: Everyday Paleo, 2010

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Ingredients for Cabbage Slaw:
3 cups red cabbage, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/3 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup mango, diced
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
Cracked black pepper to taste

Directions for Cabbage Slaw:
1.  Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Ingredients for Tacos:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper (If you have little ones, you  may want to adjust this to their taste.)
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 cup green salsa
Lettuce leaves, for wrapping (Romaine or green leaf work well.)
Avocado, chopped for topping
Cilantro, chopped for topping

Directions for Tacos:
1.  Brown the ground beef in a medium pan.
2.  Stir in the garlic powder, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and salsa.
3.  Place a small amount of taco filling onto a lettuce leaf.  Top with the cabbage slaw, avocado, and cilantro. Enjoy!

Serves:  4
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 390   Protein:  27 g   Carbohydrate:  17 g   Fat:  25 g   Cholesterol:  63 mg   Fiber:  5 g   Sugar:  8 g   (natural)   Sodium:  205 mg
Excellent source of:  omega-3 fatty acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6, B12, C, A, and E, iron, and zinc
Good source of:  folate, magnesium, and potassium