Involving children in the kitchen is a great way to get them excited about selecting and preparing healthy meals. Children may be selective eaters due to different textures, color, and flavor preferences, but the earlier they are exposed to new foods, the more likely they will be open to tasting them. Getting children to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables is an excellent start to a healthy life. You can start by offering meals they are familiar with—pancakes, pasta, potatoes, burgers, etc.— gradually making small changes to the recipes to incorporate a wider variety of healthy plant-based foods. You may substitute the meat with veggies, tofu, or beans, or use a variety of dairy-free or tomato-based sauces to make pasta and condiments for burgers and nuggets.

Kid Approved Plant-Based Recipes

Offer your children recipes they will love and enjoy! From crispy tofu nuggets to brownie bites, this recipe selection ensures there’s something for everyone. These healthy versions of family classics will have your kids excited about dinnertime. The colorful ingredients are pleasing to the eye and highlight the large number of antioxidants and phytonutrients found in plant-based foods.

Easy Buckwheat Waffles

These naturally gluten-free waffles are light, crispy, nutritious, and so easy to make. Double or triple the batch and freeze extras for a healthy breakfast on the go.

Millet-Flax Homemade “Buttermilk” Pancakes

These delicious fluffy pancakes are true crowd-pleasers! Everyone keeps coming back for more. The combination of plant-based milk and rice vinegar create that buttery, tangy flavor that people crave.

Guilt-Free Chocolate Granola

Granola can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack. Because commercial varieties are loaded with sugar and oil, I created my own version that is guilt-free and delicious.

Banana Bread Oatmeal

This quick and easy oatmeal has all the flavors of banana bread. Perfect for a naturally sweet start to your day!

Oat & Apricot Bars

These fruit and grain bars are free of processed sugar and full of flavor. They make a great snack on the road when healthy options are hard to find, and they are one of the least messy treats you can give to kids in the car!

Berry Oatmeal Bake

This fruit-sweetened pineapple berry oatmeal bake is good for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert. It’s packed with satiating oats and antioxidant-rich berries, but sweet enough to feel like a treat!

Crispy Tofu Nuggets

These delicious tofu nuggets are a fantastic alternative to the chicken nuggets you likely grew up with. The whole family will love them!

Macaroni and No Cheese

This cheese-alternative sauce is made from butternut squash and cashews, which gives it a slightly sweet flavor and makes it a kid-friendly recipe. Although the recipe calls for peas, you could add broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or any veggies of your choice.

Bite-size Cauliflower Nuggets

Next time you or someone in your family is craving nuggets, try out these satisfying cauliflower nuggets! They are delicious on their own, or paired with your favorite plant-based dipping sauce.

Veggie Burger Sliders

Fire roasting accentuates the natural sweetness of tomatoes, making them a fun option for a burger recipe like this one.

Favorite Bean & Corn Chili With Pasta

Super easy and tasty, this dish can be made in 10–15 minutes. You can save even more time by using canned tomatoes, canned kidney beans, and frozen corn, just make sure to check the salt content of the canned tomatoes.

Spaghetti and Mushroom Balls

For a nutritious plant-based meal, use mushroom balls instead of meatballs. Did you know that mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and very low in sodium, yet provide nutrients such as selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D and more?

Tropical Mango Smoothie Bowl

This quick and easy mango smoothie bowl is a refreshing, healthy breakfast that will transport you to a tropical island! Top it with a few extra mango slices, berries, granola, and some chia seeds for a nutrient-packed bowl of deliciousness.

Nummy Brownie Bites

It’s easy to fall in love with these brownie bites. They are a little crisp on the outside, but soft, moist, and dense on the inside. They’re like fudgy brownies, but so much healthier.

Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins

These muffins are perfect for breakfast or a snack. They’re dark, moist, and the raisins and fresh apple bits add variety to the texture.

Healthy Vegan Banana Split Sundae

This healthy, fruity treat feels decadent, and it is fun and easy to make! Plus, it is a great recipe to prepare with kids. You can dress up these sundaes with your favorite toppings and customize as you like.