One of the hardest parts of meal planning for a family is finding the magic balance between what healthy foods you want your children to eat, and what they’ll eat without a battle.
Mom Prepares shared a lot of vegan recipes for kids in a recent post that inspired a few of these original ideas. Here are three delicious vegan meals your kids will love.
Vegan Veggie Pizza
Pizza is the perfect dinner for kids. They see it as a treat that they’ll eat in a heartbeat, but it’s a great way to sneak in veggies.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 1 tsp active yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 3/4 cup unbleached white flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- Tomato sauce
- Your choice of vegetable toppings
- Vegan cheese
Mix the yeast with warm water to activate. Once the yeast is activated, add the flour, salt, oil, and herbs. Knead with your hands or use dough hooks on an electric beater. Add flour until the dough is no longer tacky and leave to rest for 15 minutes.
Slice your vegetables or blend them into your sauce. On a floured pan, roll out your dough. Spread the sauce on the dough and sprinkle with vegan cheese– we recommend parmesan and cheddar. Bake at 425-degrees Fahrenheit until the crust is golden.
Fettuccine Alfredo
Fettuccine alfredo is a time-honored family food favorite. Fortunately, you can enjoy this delicious dish without dairy.
For this recipe, you will need:
- 10 ounces fresh pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese
- 5 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Boil your pasta according to the instructions on the package. While that’s happening, heat a skillet with olive oil. Saute the garlic until tender, then add the flour. Stir until the garlic is coated and the flour is browned. Slowly add the almond milk, whisking as you go.
Blend in the parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, and seasoning by removing a portion of sauce and mixing in a blender or using an immersion blender until smooth. Serve over the noodles and add additional vegan cheese or fresh herbs as desired.
Veggie Pot Pie
Pot pie is a hearty, winter-friendly dish that your kids will love. Rather than using chicken, you can use tofu as a protein source or just add extra veggies.
For this recipe, you will need:
- Pre-packaged pie shell or puff pastry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 small shallots, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 4 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 large potato, cubed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Prepare your pie crust according to the guidance on the package. You can also make your own vegan pie crust from scratch. Heat a skillet with olive oil and saute your garlic and shallots until tender. Add in the flour and coat until browned. Slowly pour in the vegetable broth and almond milk, whisking as you go. Add in the vegetables and bring to a gentle boil until the sauce thickens.
Once the sauce is prepared, and the potatoes are tender, transfer to the prepared pie crust, covering if desired. Bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get creative with your cooking. These meals are so delicious, your kids will never guess that they’re eating what you want them to!
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