Vegetarian Recipes for Kids

Deciding to give up certain foods and become a vegetarian yourself is one thing, but it can be difficult to convince your kids to do the same. How can you encourage kids to eat healthy, vegetarian meals? Try some of these fail-safe recipes.

  
Applesauce
Sure you could just buy it at the store, but homemade applesauce is one of the all-time great treats.

Apricot Cherry Compote
It's easy to make compote: just stew up some dried fruit and enjoy it with dessert.

Banana Bread
A good way to use up overripe bananas and great as breakfast or a snack.

Banana Pineapple Sorbet
A cool recipe with tropical flavor.

Banana Treat
Simple, delicious, and very refreshing: frozen banana puréed into something that's quite like ice cream, without the dairy and calories.

Bean Burritos
You can either make these burritos yourself or put the ingredients on the table and let everyone build their own.

Berry Shake
A small serving of this fresh berry shake is sure to delight any kid.

Black Bean Burgers
These black bean veggie burgers from Jamaica are spicy and delicious.

Black Bean Soup
This spicy, garlicky black bean soup is hearty enough to stick to your ribs, and kids will love choosing their own toppings.

Black Bean Zucchini Quesadillas
Black beans, zucchini, and a bit of cheese folded into tortillas - this may be the best quesadillas you've ever tasted.

Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Croquettes
Crunchy croquettes made from black-eyed peas and quinoa are packed with vegetarian protein.

Bloody Mary
Treat your spice-loving kids to a tasty virgin bloody mary.

Breaded Tofu
This crunchy tofu is very bland by itself, but great for dipping into peanut sauce or barbecue sauce.

Breakfast Burrito
There's no set recipe for breakfast burritos - you can stuff them with pretty much anything you like. This recipe is for a basic breakfast burrito that you can customize to suit your own tastes.

Broiled Ricotta Gnocchi
Gnocchi are usually treated like a variety of pasta and served with sauce. But these broiled ricotta gnocchi are great served plain or as dumplings.

Brownies
The ultimate treat for chocolate lovers.

Catsup
Why buy preservative-rich tomato ketchup (or catsup) at the store when you can make a healthier and tastier version at home?

Cheese Blintzes
Although I've seen menus with various kinds of fruit blintzes listed, for me cheese blintzes are the only option. The creamy cheese filling complements the warm crêpe so nicely, I can't imagine filling it with anything else.

Cheese Enchiladas
Cheese enchiladas are very rich and filling, but if you're a cheese lover like me, they're one of the best dishes to get your fix.

Cheese Fritters
Eat these wonderful crunchy cheese fritters as soon as possible after they are cooked.

Cheese Muffins
Try these dinner muffins with warm, gooey cheese inside with soup and salad.

Chocolate Malt
There's nothing like a rich, chocolately malt. Beware - this is not for the calorie conscious!

Chocolate-Nut Candies
These delicious chocolate-nut candies are easy to make and will keep for two weeks (if they last that long!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
A delicious, rich, warm chocolate cake with a hint of peanut butter that tastes even better when served with berry sauce and/or vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Pudding
A rich, creamy, and extremely chocolatey pudding. It's got some calories, but it's worth it! There's also a frozen chocolate pudding variation.

Chocolate Pudding Cake
This interesting chocolate pudding cake has numerous good points: it's low in fat, potentially vegan, easy to make with kids, and delicious too.

Crêpes
Crêpes are thin pancakes that can be wrapped around just about anything to turn it into an elegant meal, or just folded and topped with something yummy. Let your kids experiment to invent their own.

Crudités
A platter of crudités typically consists one or more types of raw vegetables served with one or more dips - kids can mix and match their favorites.

Deviled Eggs
Aside from being a nice way to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs are easy to make, convenient to eat, and tasty to boot.

Dips
Dips are the ultimate kid food - they love dunking and dipping bread, vegetables, and anything else they can get their hands on.

Fajitas
Everyone seems to love "build it yourself" meals, and fajitas are a delicous way to do this. Hot fillings and cold toppings are served with tortillas so that you can mix and match your own fajitas.

French "Fries"
Although I call these French fries, it's a bit of a misnomer, as they are roasted rather than fried. They're very similar to the fried ones and every bit as good!

Fresh Pasta
Making fresh pasta takes less than an hour and you can't beat it for taste and texture. Kids will love the different color possibilities.

Fruit Salad
There's nothing like a bowl of fresh, sweet fruit salad in the summer. No one really needs a recipe for fruit salad, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Garlic Bread
I eat bread with nearly every meal, especially soup, salad, and pasta (obviously I'm not a low-carb diet fan). Plain French or Italian bread is wonderful, but nice hot garlic bread can be a real treat.

Ginger Ale
Homemade ginger ale is easy to make and much more "gingery" than anything you can buy at the store.

Gingerbread
Moist and spicy, gingerbread is a perfect Christmas treat.

Granola
This crunchy granola has enough protein and fiber to get you through the whole day!

Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes called toasted cheese, is one of the simplest and yet tastiest dishes around. There's something about melty, gooey cheese on toast that really hits the spot.

Hearts of Palm Dip
This creamy dip made with hearts of palm and green onion will remind you of sour cream and onion potato chips.

Lemonade
The ultimate summertime drink - fresh, sweet-tart lemonade.

Limeade
Limeade is a nice change of pace for a summertime drink.

Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that sound boring, but can be just as delicious as a "fancier" pasta dish like lasagne or pesto.

Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. They're quick and easy and the soft texture makes me feel like a kid. They're also a great base for all kinds of variations like vegan mashed potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Looking for a tasty alternative to regular mashed potatoes? Try mashed sweet potatoes (aka yams).

Noodles and Cheese
I don't know where this recipe comes from or if there's a nicer name for it; all I know is that my mother used to make it when I was a kid and it only has 5 ingredients. The buttery, almost smoky onion flavor and the melty cottage cheese are absolutely delicious!

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the great breakfasts - not only is it packed with nutrients, it's also easy to cook and can be customized to your heart's content.

Omelette
Omelettes (or omelets) are quick, easy, and very versatile. They're great at any time of the day, especially breakfast or brunch.

Pancakes
Pancakes are, for me, the ideal breakfast. They're quick and easy, and customizable to everyone's individual taste. Also see my pages on pancake/waffle mix and pancake/waffle ideas.

Peanut Sauce
This peanut sauce recipe is quick, simple, and unbelievably delicious.

Pesto Pizza
Pesto makes this simple pizza recipes stand out from the crowd.

Pizza
Making homemade pizza is one of the best and most creative ways for your kids to get fed.

Potato Pancakes / Latkes
Potato pancakes, or latkes, are a Jewish dish traditionally served at Hanukkah. Whether you're Jewish or not, crispy potato pancakes are delicious at breakfast and brunch.

Quesadillas
Quesadillas - toasted tortillas filled with melted cheese - are quick, easy, and a favorite of kids.

Rice Salad
This is a very simple but lovely dish. Kids will especially like making their own salad by picking their favorite items.

Ricotta Gnocchi
Gnocchi are little Italian dumplings served with sauce. Usually made with potatoes, the best gnocchi are like soft pillows. Personally, I find they are even more delectable when made with ricotta cheese.

Roasted Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are such a traditional winter treat that there's a song about them - sing along as you roast your own chestnuts.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins are a key ingredient in some wonderful recipes, notably pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup - not to mention jack-o'lanterns - but what can you do with the seeds? Roast 'em!

Seitan, Onion, Bell Pepper Wraps
Wraps are the fun version of sandwiches. Just heat up a tortilla, add some filling, and enjoy. This seitan, onion, bell pepper, and cheese filling makes a hearty vegetarian wrap.

Smoothie
Cool and refreshing, smoothies are a delicious and nutritious way to quench your thirst and even satisfy a minor hunger.

Sparkling Juice
When you feel like having something a little more special than plain old juice, try this sparkling juice recipe.

Stacked Tortillas
This is a quick and interesting way to eat some good veggies.

Stuffed Shells
Pasta shells stuffed with cheese, topped with tomato sauce, and baked until bubbly.

Sweet Potato Muffins
A great way to start the day.

Tempeh Hash
This simple recipe yields a high-protein breakfast.

Tortellini Soup
This garlicky soup is easy, quick, and delicious.

Tostadas
Tostadas are kind of like the Mexican equivalent of pizza, with beans, cheese, and guacamole piled on top of a tortilla crust.

True Veggie Burgers
This vegetarian/vegan burger is made entirely of vegetables, rather than beans or lentils like typical veggie burgers.

Vegetable Salad
This colorful, tasty salad is good way to use up some leftover vegetables.

Vegetarian Pizza
Recipe for a typical vegetarian pizza recipe with mushrooms, bell peppers, and olives.

Veggie Burgers
These vegetarian/vegan burgers, made with lentils, are healthy, low-fat, and delicious.

Virgin Sangría
Kids will love this non-alcoholic version of sangría.

Waffles
Doesn't everyone love waffles? They're quick and easy, and customizable to everyone's individual taste. This batter works for both waffles and pancakes.

Watermelon Blackberry Soup
Think fruit in soup is bizarre? Your kids with find this soup cool on a hot summer day.

If you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share please do so on the forum!

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