Vegan Recipes for Kids | Kathy's Vegan Kitchen (2024)

To create vegan recipes my kids loved, I "veganized" the foods they loved before transitioning them to a plant-based diet.You will love these vegan recipes for kids.

When I first started eating a plant-based diet, I struggled to get my family on board. At first, I made separate meals, and then I realized if I changed my way of eating, it was my job to teach my children how to eat healthily as well. So, I had to learn to make vegan recipes for kids.

With the knowledge I possessed, I couldn't eat healthily and feed my family unhealthy food.

In fact, we, as parents teach our children what and how to eat. Children do not purchase or prepare food, nor do they drive themselves through McDonald's. As a result, many children develop terrible eating habits.

One of my friends, for instance, told me her child refuses to eat anything but Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and throws herself on the floor if she doesn't get fruit snacks.

In order to unteach unhealthy habits, we first must admit that we created the problem. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese isn't real food, nor is it healthy! And, fruit snacks, don't fruit!

How to Teach Kids to Eat Healthy

The key to transforming unhealthy eating habits is to make healthy vegan recipes kids will love. As a matter of fact, my children, who are now grown adults are vegan and healthy.

In order to create vegan recipes that my kids loved, I simply "veganized" the foods they loved before changing to a plant-based diet.

My children, for instance, love Mexican food, and this crunch wrap supreme recipe is a favorite in my house with the kids and the adults. Since my children and I are both lactose intolerant, theVegan Nacho Cheese Sauceis made from potatoes and carrots and tastes fabulous. I make a large batch ofVegan Nacho Cheese Sauceto use for a variety of recipes throughout the week.

Another one of my kids' favorite recipes is vegan sloppy joes. Served withHealthy Greek Pasta Salad, this meal can be made ahead of time, and the sloppy joes can be frozen. I make a double batch and freeze one batch, making meal prepping easier.

Homemade peanut butter is how to skip the added sugar and oils in store-bought peanut butter.

Kids love these bite-sized tofu quiches. Make them ahead of time, freeze them, and heat them up quickly for a quick and easy breakfast on those rushed school days!

Without a doubt, cashew mac and cheese is a kid-pleaser. Kids love mac and cheese, so healthy vegan mac and cheese is a home run.

Additionally,Vegan Taquitosare always in my arsenal of vegan recipes for kids. Crunchy on the outside, and full of lentil filling, these vegan taquitos disappear in minutes. Served with a salad with Vegan Southwest Dressing, my kids love these handheld favorites.

Again, thisVegan Meatloafrecipe is a keeper. Not only do my kids love this meatless meatloaf for dinner, but they love it the next day on a sandwich with crusty toasted bread and mustard.

Regardless of age, all kids love french fries. But french fries are usually fried! Instead, baked or air-fry french fries for healthy, crispy french fries. If your kids love french fries, as my kids do, trySteak Fries Crispy Air Fryer Steak Fries Recipeor add some chili and makeLoaded Chili Fries.

Loaded with jackfruit and crispy oil-free tortilla strips, thisVegan Tortilla Souprecipe is kid-friendly and full of veggies.

One of the most difficult transitions, for my kids, was bacon. So, I makeVegan Coconut Baconwhich is great as a soup topping, or forVegan BLT, or to topVegan Potato Soup. Easy to make, and store, coconut bacon is a staple in my kitchen to keep my kids happy and healthy.

Also stuffed withVegan Coconut Bacon, thisVegan Breakfast Burritois one of my go-to kid breakfast recipes. Stuffed with tofu scramble and veggies, this burrito is grilled in a pan and ready in minutes.

Kids love hot dogs; these tasty carrot dogs are easy to make and are perfect for lunch or dinner.

If your kids are chili dog fans, this coney sauce is great served on top of carrot dogs or air fryer steak fries.

Pizza pinwheels are a bite-sized treat for a snack or an entree. Kids love helping make them, and they are healthy and delicious.

Whip up a quick and easy breakfast quesadilla using one pan! These quesadillas are a big hit with my kids!

Skip the tortilla, and make a healthy burrito bowl with roasted and raw vegetables, topped with a creamy chili sauce.

Sweet and savory come together in the easy vegan pineapple fried rice recipe. Serve with chopsticks for added fun!

Kid Recipes in Under 30 Minutes

As I said earlier, children can be taught to enjoy plant-based foods, but sometimes buy lives get in the way of making healthy foods.

When kids attend school, participate in sports, or another outside activity, it's difficult to have time to cook. For that reason, I love one-pot meals that come together in under 30 minutes.

Often, fast food replaces cooking because of time management.

Make a quick and easy chickpea egg salad sandwich. Serve on bread or with crackers, veggies, and fruit. It's perfect for a lunchbox.

Kids love fried pickles, and these fried pickles are easy to make in the air fryer or in the oven.

Nothing tastes better when it's cold outside than a thick and creamy potato chowder soup.

For a quick and easy snack, whip up some crunchy chickpeas! Choose your favorite seasoning blend for a different treat each time!

Whenever I'm in a hurry, I love making one-pot pasta recipes with minimal mess in under 20 minutes. So today, I made a one-pot vegan enchilada pasta recipe that turned out exactly as planned.

If your kids LOVE BBQ like my kids, you will love this pulled pork sweet potato sandwich recipe. Not only is it easy to make, but your pulled pork sweet potato sandwiches will disappear from your dinner table in minutes.

If you love comfort food, vegan chicken and dumplings is comfort food in a bowl in under 20 minutes!

Tofu nuggets are crispy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside. Try these tofu nuggets instead of vegan chicken nuggets. Pair with vegan ranch or mustard dipping sauce.

Chipotle pasta is a one-pot quick and easy pasta recipe that brings the kids back for seconds!

Try this tasty vegan Hungarian goulash recipe in one pot in under 30 minutes! And try not to lick the bowl!

Of course, I introduced my kids to ranch dressing, the real and unhealthy version. So, it was my job to make a healthy ranch version they would love.

According to my kids, my vegan ranch tastes like the ranch dressing they love. Once I figured out how to make this simple ranch dressing recipe, and they loved it, I could get them to eat any vegetable dipped in ranch.

Even though it may be difficult, initially, to come up with vegan recipes, kids like, think about the foods they like and "veganize" them. And, remember, kids learn by example. As parents, it's our job to teach them how to eat to grow into healthy, happy, adults.