In my never-ending quest to make meals easier…

…especially on those evenings when I’m getting home with the kids and do not have it in me to prep a whole fresh-from-scratch spread—we’ve been leaning into slow cooker meals.

But it’s spring! And all the usual heavy root veggie + meat combos? Just feel… too much.

So, I hit Google and came across a recipe by Robyn Conley Downs at Real Food Whole Life called:
👉 Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder (Crockpot, Instant Pot, Stovetop!)

Seriously? The Crockpot, Instant Pot and stovetop options sold me immediately.
We went with the Crockpot, 4 hours on high.

Any Swaps? Not This Time. (Shocking, I Know.)

We didn’t make any substitutions, which is… rare around here. It was already gluten and dairy free, so, good to go!

But I had low expectations, because:

• My kids aren’t fans of cauliflower
• They’re deeply skeptical of mixed meals
• And soup? Sometimes yes, sometimes a very dramatic no

For context:
My son will inhale a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup—but still pick out every carrot and celery piece. My daughter? Mostly a no on mixed foods and a general “meh” toward meat.

But we try anyway. Because… life.

The Actual Kid Reactions

After a few minutes of expected complaints about “what is this?” and “it looks weird,” here’s what happened:

👦 My son: Devoured all the chicken. Then all the potatoes (yes, there was ketchup on the side).
👧 My daughter: Ate every shred of chicken in her bowl. One bite of potato. And even a teeny tiny piece of cauliflower. (Which is basically a feast for a fairy, so I’m calling it a win.)

👏 Unexpected wins all around.

Parent Review:

We loved it.
Like… went back for seconds and debated on thirds loved it.
Warm, flavorful, not too heavy.
Honestly perfect for this time of year.

Would I Make It Again?

Absolutely. It’s officially in rotation.

Would I change anything? Just one:
Have extra lemon slices on the side.
It brightened the dish so much, and it’s an easy way to adjust the flavor to each person’s preferences.

Mini Coaching Nudge:

Not every meal has to be a win for everyone. But every time you try something new? You’re learning. You’re gathering data. You’re building your own family cookbook—one picky bite at a time.

Janel Stewart

Let’s Begin

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