5 Tips for Vegan Cooking with Kids by Elle Walsh
If your children are anything like mine, they consider easy,
3) Get the kids involved.
and quick fix meals, like mac and cheese, their favorites.
Let the kids help you cook. It takes longer and it can be messy,
Unfortunately, ‘easy and quick’ doesn’t always mean healthy.
but the memories last a lifetime. Their joy when they get to eat
We have been plant-based for nine years now, and in that nine
their masterpiece is precious. If kids cooking in your kitchen is
years, I have learned some great tips and tricks to guide my
not your jam, share your recipes with them. Let them pick which
children to make good, healthy food choices. Here are my top 5
meals you will make. Let them pick the eggplant, or the zucchini
tips on how to go plant-based with kids!
out at the grocery store. Sometimes, they just need to be a part
1) Plant-Based doesn’t have to mean cooked. My kids love raw fruit and veggies. No matter what meal of the
4) When in doubt, hide it.
day it is, they have fruit and vegetables on their plate. Their
If your kids love any kind of sauce, its so easy to hide fruits and
favorites are strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and carrots
veggies in them. I put pureed cooked vegetables in all of my
with hummus. Stick to the basics and give them what they like.
pasta sauces, soups and even mac&cheese. Works for picky
2) Make it fun.
husbands and wives too.
Try a new fruit or vegetable every week. Everyone can rate how
5) Healthy doesn’t have to mean salad.
much they like or dislike what you tried. Not only are you doing
Do you know what my family’s favorite plant-based meal is?
something together but you are learning what their favorite
Pizza!! We add a ton of vegetables, herbs and spices. Take their
fruits and vegetables are. Once they find a vegetable that they
favorite meals and just add in what they like. These tips and
enjoy, try cooking it in different ways (steam, grill, bake) to find
tricks have worked for us and I hope that they can help you too!
what everyone likes the best!
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of the process.
