5 Tips for Vegan Cooking with Kids by Elle Walsh

by Elle Walsh

If your children are anything like mine, they consider easy, and quick fix meals, like mac and cheese, their favorites. Unfortunately, ‘easy and quick’ doesn’t always mean healthy. We have been plant-based for nine years now, and in that nine years, I have learned some great tips and tricks to guide my children to make good, healthy food choices. Here are my top 5 tips on how to go plant-based with kids!

My kids love raw fruit and veggies. No matter what meal of the day it is, they have fruit and vegetables on their plate. Their favorites are strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and carrots with hummus. Stick to the basics and give them what they like.

Try a new fruit or vegetable every week. Everyone can rate how much they like or dislike what you tried. Not only are you doing something together but you are learning what their favorite fruits and vegetables are. Once they find a vegetable that they enjoy, try cooking it in different ways (steam, grill, bake) to find what everyone likes the best!

Let the kids help you cook. It takes longer and it can be messy, but the memories last a lifetime. Their joy when they get to eat their masterpiece is precious. If kids cooking in your kitchen is not your jam, share your recipes with them. Let them pick which meals you will make. Let them pick the eggplant, or the zucchini out at the grocery store. Sometimes, they just need to be a part of the process.

If your kids love any kind of sauce, it's so easy to hide fruits and veggies in them. I put pureed cooked vegetables in all of my pasta sauces, soups and even mac&cheese. Works for picky husbands and wives too.

Do you know what my family’s favorite plant-based meal is? Pizza!! We add a ton of vegetables, herbs and spices. Take their favorite meals and just add in what they like. These tips and tricks have worked for us and I hope that they can help you too!

WET INGREDIENTS

» 2T ground flax seed

» 6T warm water

» 1C non-dairy chocolate chips

» 1C+1T of raw cane sugar

» 1 ½ t vanilla

» 7T non-dairy butter, softened

DRY INGREDIENTS

» 1t salt

» 1C all purpose flour

» ¼ C cocoa powder

» 1t baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make a flax egg by combining flax seed and water and let sit forfive minutes.

2. Melt chocolate over low heat in the microwave or stove top. Cream together the butter and sugar with a whisk until smooth. Add in all wet ingredients and combine. Add in dry ingredients and whisk until just mixed.

3. Pour into a parchment paper lined brownie pan and cook at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Elle is the owner of The Vegan Chick Bakery in McKinney, TX as well as a restaurant allergen consultant. She is a wife and mother of 2 who loves to travel, being in nature, and cuddling with her Chihuahua dog, Sadie.

@THEVEGAN.CHICK