Slow Cooker Chicken & Bell Pepper Nachos

As a child I would bike up to the moors to pick wild blueberries (bilberries), and run through the bluebell woods remembering every fallen tree or boggy patch from previous visits. Even today my desk is deliberately positioned in front of the window facing outward so that I can avert my indoor gaze away from the screen and catch a glimpse of urban greenery and the blue sky outside.

In an excerpt from Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv’s work linking the absence of nature to prevalent childhood trends such as: depression, attention disorders and obesity, many children today have little connection to the outdoors in what Louv describes as “nature deficit disorder.”

Reconnecting with our natural world can help stimulate and restore our attention. From making the very first drill in our community garden bed for a row of tiny seeds by poking a finger in the dirt, then methodically swinging a watering can backward and forward over the new growth that erupts, to finally picking the ripe fruits in the summer – our tactility with nature begins. It won’t be long before Lily and Connie are bringing freshly picked produce indoors. The results in the kitchen of preparing and cooking with our homegrown fruits and vegetables are significantly enhanced by their provenance and superior taste.

Recent studies have compared working outdoors and indoors and report improved concentration and sensory integratration when engaged with nature. For Autism Awareness month we’ve created this simple recipe for chicken nachos to give you the freedom to spend more time outdoors while it cooks. When you come inside, everyone will be happy to gather at the dinner table and add their own chopped avocado, lettuce and sour cream.

Prep Time 10 minutes Cooking Time 6-8 hours LOW Servings 4-6

Ingredients

1 medium white onion, sliced into half moons
1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs
2 tbsp fajita seasoning store bought or make your own *
3 tbsp lime juice
tortilla chips
grated cheese
lettuce
avocado

* 1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix the onion, red and green pepper strips and put in your slow cooker insert.

Place the chicken thighs on top of the peppers

Sprinkle the top of the chicken and peppers with the fajita seasoning mix and the lime juice. Place the lid on your slow cooker and turn to Low for 6-8 hours.

Put a layer of tortilla chips into the bottom of an oven proof dish. Shred the cooked chicken and using a slotted spoon remove the chicken, peppers and onions and lay on top of the tortilla chips.

Sprinkle the chips with grated cheese and put under a preheated broiler (grill) until the cheese is melted. Serve with the lettuce, avocado and sour cream on the side. I like quick pickled red onion too – slice and toss in lime juice and seasoned rice wine vinegar.

Zen Toolkit
If your child wants extra sensory input have your toppings pre-prepared and refrigerated so they can build their own nacho plate.

Zen Moment
from Last Child in the Woods
“Progress does not have to be patented to be worthwhile. Progress can also be measured by our interactions with nature and its preservation. Can we teach children to look at a flower and see all the things it represents: beauty, the health of an ecosystem, and the potential for healing? ”
– Richard Louv