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Nourish: This joe is still sloppy, with extra fun from a funghi

You can't take yourself too seriously when you're eating a sloppy joe sandwich. You're bound to giggle at some point when the saucy meat starts spilling out of the bun, and, inevitably, at least some winds up on your face and fingers. It's officially fun food, loved by kids and adults alike.

While it's typically not considered healthful, with fatty meat, salt and sugar in spades, just a few swaps can turn the sandwich into a good-for-you meal that is just as joyful.

In the accompanying recipe, there's ground beef, but it is lean, and once browned it is mixed with lots of finely chopped, sauteed mushrooms whose meaty taste and texture allow them to blend in with the beef, adding vegetable nutrition, seamlessly. There's plenty of red bell pepper upping the produce ante, too.

The mouthwatering sauce gets its sweetness from molasses, rather than refined sugar, which adds a distinctive deep flavor and valuable minerals. And healthful seasonings - onion, garlic, chili powder, powdered mustard, cider vinegar - bring big flavor to the tomato-based sauce so you don't need to lean on salt to get a punchy taste.

Served on whole-grain buns, the sloppy joe makes for a meal that allows the cook to use a single skillet. Just remember to bring extra napkins to the table - and forks for the delicious overflow that lands on the plate. I dare you not to smile while eating it.

• Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author who hosts public television's "Ellie's Real Good Food." She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.

Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes

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