Vegan Recipes for Kids

Temper tantrums. Food shoved across the table (or even onto the floor). Kids that won’t touch a plate of food unless there’s pizza on it.

Dinnertime can prove to be a frustrating endeavor even on the best of days – but when you’re making the switch to a vegan lifestyle, your kids might be even more resistant to the vegan menu. 

No matter why you decided to start eating vegan, or what your exact situation is, we can agree on one thing: we all want to provide our families with the best food possible – foods that don’t contain preservatives, additives and ingredients that a college student couldn’t even pronounce.

This might seem like quite a challenging task, but it’s not impossible! In fact, sticking to a vegan diet can be fun (and tasty) for both kids and parents. Here are a few fun, vegan recipes for kids that will get them completely and totally hooked on the vegan lifestyle.

Chili “Cheese” Fries 

What kid doesn’t love a plate of fries, covered in deceptively cheesy topping? Not any kids we’ve ever met. If you serve your kids these french lentil vegan cheese fries by @plantifullybased, prepare to have everyone begging for seconds. 

These loaded “cheese” fries are crafted with french lentil soup, a quick, yummy, homemade sauce and whatever additional toppings you think your kids will eat without a fuss. You can tailor them to fit your family’s needs, or make them as-is; either way this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

Ramen Pancakes by @plantifullybased

Kids love pancakes, right? Here’s a little breakfast/dinner hybrid meal – @plantifullybased has truly outdone herself this time! These miso pancakes are handheld, tasty and a totally great vegan option for kids.

You can serve them plain, or with a maple + sriracha dip. Kids will love them, moms will love making them, this is truly a lifesaver if you’re looking for a fun, quick vegan dinner! 

Vegan Black Bean Tacos

Your kids are going to love these vegan tacos even more than the sodium-filled, fast-food tacos you’ve learned to avoid. Plus, they come together in a flash, so you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!

This kid-friendly vegan recipe is made using the vegan Black Bean & Lime Soup Cup, tortillas and your favorite taco toppings. Simple, delicious and kid-friendly vegan food does exist- what a time to be alive!

Vegan Baked Chili Nachos

These vegan nachos are the perfect family dinner. Not only can you load them up with tasty ingredients, but each person can customize their own nachos just the way they like them. No complaints, no whining… victory! 

This recipe uses vegan chili bean soup, sliced avocados, tomatoes and fresh cilantro- simple and classic with a delicious vegan twist! Your kids won’t even know that these are vegan unless you tell them, so keep it on the down-low…

Making the switch from a traditional diet to a vegan lifestyle can be tricky for adults, and even trickier for kids. They’re used to a certain type of food or a certain amount of mealtime routine. But that doesn’t have to go away if you decide to embrace the vegan lifestyle with your family! 

Below, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips and tricks on getting your kids to go vegan. 

Here’s How to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegan Food

Find Your Favorite Recipes

First up, find the best vegan recipes! 

If you’re like most parents, you might be worried that changing your family’s diet will mean spending even more time in the kitchen than usual. Luckily, there are tons of vegan recipes for kids that require no time at all, and very little effort! 

Make a list of your favorite vegan recipes, and keep them on hand for nights when you need a fast meal and don’t have the time to scroll endlessly through Pinterest looking for inspiration. This will help cut down on meal-time frustration and show your kids that it’s possible to find fast, vegan friendly options if you know where to look.

Having 3-5 go-to recipes that you know your family likes will be a huge help to you, especially on days where you’re in a pinch.

Get Your Kids Involved

Kids love to be a part of the action in the kitchen. But even though it might require a little bit of added patience on your part, it’s always worth it to get your kids involved in making meals that the whole family will enjoy. 

Whether that means including your kids in the grocery shopping, having them help you find new vegan recipes to try together, or actually helping you in the kitchen, make sure to include your kids in some aspect of the meal so that they feel invested and excited about eating. 

It’s also fun (if they’re old enough, and have proper adult supervision) to encourage your kids to make a meal on their own for the family! 

Talk About the ‘Why’

For many adults, having a “why” for eating vegan is a very important part of successfully tackling the vegan lifestyle; for kids it’s especially helpful. 

The number one thing you can do is talk about why you love eating vegan foods. Share with your kids why you went vegan, and explain to them the benefits of this lifestyle. Help them figure out their own “why.” Help them see that they have power, and that their choices matter for themselves, and for the environment.

Stash Microwavable Meals & Easy-to-Make Foods

Sometimes, convenience is key. It’s great to have food readily available for kids to grab, so make sure to stock up on vegan ready-made foods to take the guesswork out of a quick snack or small meal. 

Right Foods offers tasty, convenient vegan meals that are fun to make and affordable. Keeping a few vegan ramen noodle or tortilla soup packs on hand makes it easy to stick to a vegan lifestyle, even when you’re on the go or looking for a quick snack.  

“Just tried this brand [Right Foods] for the first time. I only got one, because you never know how new things are going to taste, but I cannot wait to get more because the taste was incredible. This will now be a staple lunch item. Great Job!”

-Amanda