Trying to get your kids on board with a more plant based lifestyle? Here you’ll find some amazing kid friendly vegetarian recipes that are also vegan and whole food plant based. They’re going to love it and ask for more!
Transitioning to a plant based or vegetarian diet and lifestyle can be so exciting! Trying to get a few kiddos and a husband on board is can be a bit more of a challenge. You’ve done your research and made some changes in your own life with ease and fun! Taking the chicken nuggets and red meat away can be more than a struggle for your meat-eaters at home. Replace those not so healthy meals with these kid friendly vegetarian recipes!
When I made a change to a whole food plant based diet my husband was on board but my two little carnivores…not so much. I have now lost 35 pounds and my husband probably even more (effortlessly might I add eating the plant based food I cook – men…) Anyway, I have created and perfected a few recipes that I can cook my kiddies where they’re not asking for meat or dairy instead. The kids are also much more open try trying things and getting used to having different meals.
Check out these 9 fool-proof recipes that will get your kids on board all week long or just once a week for a Meatless Monday. These meals will work for your family no matter where you on your plant based journey.
This post is all about 11 kid friendly vegetarian recipes every parent should know.
Kid Friendly Vegetarian Breakfasts
Sweet Potato Waffles
Your whole family will want these on Sunday mornings! They freeze well and you can make a big batch and eat them all week !“WAAAFFFLLLEESSS” – My kids screams when we have waffles. They absolutely love these and I love when they eat sweet potatoes and oats for breakfast. This is also a great weight loss recipe for us mom’s who need some inspiration in that area.
Ready in 30 minutes
Makes 8 Waffles
Makes 4 Servings
You’ll Need:
3 – 4 sweet potatoes pre-cooked (We prep a bag of sweet potatoes every week so they’re ready to go at waffle time)
1 cup oats
1 TBS vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
Mix ingredients in a blender. Here is a link to the waffle maker I use. Pour enough batter into the waffle maker to cover the bottom. If you’re not using a non-stick waffle maker give a quick spray to keep them from sticking. Let them cook until they stop steaming. Repeat until the batter is gone. This should make about 8 waffles. Top with fresh fruit or maple syrup. Enjoy!
Hashbrowns and Fresh Veggies and Fruit
My absolute favorite breakfast! I’m not a sweets person. I always prefer salty and savory to something sweet so I can and do, eat this every day!
20 minutes to prep
Serves 1
You’ll Need:
2 – 3 cups frozen oil-free has browns (Trader Joes brand is my favorite)
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp mushroom umami powder (I get this from Trader Joes)
1 tsp garlic powder
Fresh Fruit
Fresh Veggies or Steamed Veggies
Instructions:
Put potatoes onto Griddler or sheet pan and sprinkle with spices. My favorite way to make these is on my Griddler. If you use the Griddler, let it cook until it stops steaming – its usually after the green light turns on. If it’s sticking, it’s not ready yet. Wait until it doesn’t stick anymore. Click here for the griddle that I use – Amazon.
Serve with ketchup or barbeque sauce. I usually do a squirt of soy sauce on my steamed veggies.
Banana Oat Waffles
Ready in 20 minutes
Makes about 8 pancakes
Serves 2 (4 pancakes each)
You’ll Need:
4 bananas
2 cups oats
1 TBS vanilla
1/2 cup plant milk (add more one tablespoon at a time if your batter is too thick to pour)
2 TBS baking powder
You can also use blueberries, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips (my kids favorite) to top or cook into the pancakes
Instructions:
Preheat your non-stick griddle or frying pan at medium heat. Click here for an awesome non-stick griddle on Amazon
Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and combine. Once your griddle is hot, pour out pancake batter and add blueberries, nuts, or chocolate chips now if you’re using them. A little spray of cooking oil will not hurt your weight loss if you need it. Go for it if you don’t have a non-stick surface to cook on.
Lunch Ideas
Nut/Seed Butter and Jelly
Obviously I know! But it’s a classic and my kids will eat this every day if I let them!
5 Minutes Prep Time
Serves 1
You’ll Need:
2 slices bread – We use Ezekiel sprouted grain to get the most nutrition out of this meal
or
1 Whole Wheat Tortilla – Kids love roll ups too!
2 TBS Seed/Nut Butter – We use SunButter in our house because of a nut allergy
2 TBS Jelly/Jam – Try to find one without added sugar
Instructions:
Spread nut/seed butter and jelly on the bread or tortilla and voila! Serve with fresh veggies or fruit. You’ll probably want one too!
Cut off the crust or cut it to fun shapes for the kiddos! That always helps!
No Tuna Tuna Salad
I loved tuna and egg salads but now that I’m plant based, I have found this amazing alternative. This is an awesome, cheap, healthy idea for kids. My kids like egg salad and tuna salad too. Making it look like a little chick doesn’t hurt either!
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Makes about 4 – 6 Servings
You’ll Need:
1 can chickpeas
2 TBS mayo (I use vegan mayo)
1 TBS mustard
1 TBS sweet relish – this is the key ingredient!
1 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
bread, crackers, tortilla, or carrot and celery sticks
Instructions:
Rinse the chickpeas and put them into a bowl. Mash with a fork until there are no more whole chickpeas left. Add the mayo, mustard, relish, and lemon juice and mix. Enjoy on bread, with crackers (my favorite), or scoop it up with carrots, celery and cucumber slices. However your kids will eat it, do that!
Enjoy!
Dynamite Dinners
No Chicken Noodle Soup
Prep Time 20 Minutes
Makes 6 Servings
You’ll Need:
1 box vegetable stock
1 can cannellini beans
2 carrots peeled and chopped
1/2 onion diced
1 TBS minced garlic
2 celery stalks chopped
8 oz or 1/2 box of pasta of your choice – ABC pasta or pastina or ditalini work great for little ones!
Instructions:
Water Saute onions and garlic in a large pot for 5 minutes. Add celery, carrots, and beans and stir for 5 more minutes. Keep adding a little water as needed so nothing burns. Pour in the box of stock and add the pasta. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or sandwiches. My kiddos just love this soup. Great for a winter afternoon!
Potato Fries and Veggies
Who doesn’t want to eat french fries for dinner? My kids will eat this every night! These spices work best for my kiddoes but if they’re just for my husband and I, we add some spice or go the curry route. Whatever you like!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Serves 2 – 4
You’ll Need:
1 – 2 pounds pre-steamed potatoes
garlic powder
onion powder
paprika
mushroom umami powder (not necessary)
Steamed Veggies or Fresh Veggies – Whatever you have and whatever your kids will eat. Cucubmers, bell peppers, carrot sticks etc. Steamed broccoli, zucchini, asparagus etc.
Serve with ketchup or barbeque. Any kind of sauces your kids like.
Instructions:
Cut pre-steamed potatoes into french fries. Sprinkle with spices. I put mine in the air fryer at 450 for 25 – 30m. Before we had the air fryer I used to broil them for 10 minutes on each side in the toaster oven. The spices can be change to any flavor profile. You don’t have to follow mine. You could do curry or chili flavor. The options are endless!
Vegetarian Bolognese and Pasta
Yes, who doesn’t love a comforting bowl of past and meat sauce? This is such a good replacement for that! If your family hate mushrooms you can leave them out but you can’t even taste them after they’re cooked and smothered in marinara.
Prep Time 30 Minutes
Serves 4
You’ll Need:
1 lb whole wheat pasta of your choice
1 container white button or cremini mushrooms minced
1/2 cup red lentils
1 carrot chopped
1 onion chopped
1 TBS minced garlic
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 jar marinara (We love Raos but its very high in fat)
Instructions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare pasta as directed on the box. In a large frying pan, water saute onion and garlic for 5 – 7 minutes until translucent. Add carrots and mushrooms and keeping adding water as needed to keep these from burning – saute another 5 – 7 minutes until mushrooms are soft. Add the jar of sauce, lentils, and peas. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20 minutes or until lentils turn soft and disappear.
Serve over pasta and enjoy!
Easy Vegetarian Desserts and Snacks
Black Bean Brownies
OMG I just made these for the first time the other day. Holy Moly! Not beany, just delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Serves 9
You’ll Need:
1 can black beans rinsed
2 TBS cocoa powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 tps salt
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/3 cup plant milk
1/tsp baking powder
1/4 – 1/2 chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life brand – they’re vegan and top 8 allergy free)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375. Add all ingredients except chocolate chips into a blender. Blend until smooth and pour into a 9×13 or 8×8 nonstick pan with parchment paper. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for 18 – 20 minutes.
Energy Balls
My kids absolutely love these and I love when they eat them! They’re a great source of healthy calories and nutrition for them. Like most of my recipes, you can use what you have on hand and make easy substitutions. Some other add-ins are granola toppings, coconut, craisins, chopped nuts (if you can eat them). Making these over the weekend and having them for on the go breakfasts is so helpful on crazy mornings.
Ready in 15 minutes
Makes about 25 balls
About 5 servings
You’ll Need:
1 cup oats (I use quick oats)
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (I use enjoy life because they’re nut free)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup Sunbutter (you could also use peanut butter or any other nut/seed butter)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Unfortunately, the best way I have found to mix this, is with my hands. Roll into bite sized balls and put on to a baking sheet to freeze. If the balls and crumbling in your hands and not sticking together, add more syrup. Put balls in the freezer to harden for about 2 – 3 hours. Keep them frozen or you can keep them in the fridge or room – temp. It’s up to you. Enjoy!
Banana Bread
My kids LOVE this banana bread and you will too! How else can we justify eating cake for breakfast?!
Prep Time 5 Minutes
Cook Time 50 – 60 Minutes
Serves 10
You’ll Need:
1 3/4 cup flour – any kind will do, GF, oat, whole wheat, whatever
1/3 cup apple sauce
1/3 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 ripe bananas
1/4 tsp salt
1 TBS vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup plant milk
1/4 cup chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life – they’re vegan and top 8 allergy friendly)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Mash bananas in a bowl and add apple sauce and plant milk. Mix in dry ingredients until incorporated. Pour into a non-stick loaf pan (click here to buy one on amazon). Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Bake 50 – 60 minutes. Enjoy!
This post was all about 11 kid friendly vegetarian recipes every parent should try.
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