Over 40 delicious recipes your kids will actually like! From easy mini pizzas to lots of creamy pasta dishes, bite-sized snacks and healthy cookies, these kid-friendly vegan recipes are super crowd-pleasing.
Getting kids to eat their dinner is one thing, but what about a completely vegan dinner? We’re talking about including vegetables!
Because we are all so different when it comes to taste preferences (children included!), we made sure that this selection of kid-friendly vegan recipes offers something for everyone.
free 7-day vegan meal plan
Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.
Have your kids try as many foods as possible to let them discover their likes and dislikes, serve comfort foods that are made vegan with a couple of swaps, and invite your children to help prepare the meal if you like so they become more adventurous in their eating!
If your kid has a small appetite, try some delicious high-calorie vegan meals, and be sure to include as many high-calorie vegan foods into their diet as possible!
Check out these tasty snacks for kids, pizza recipes, tacos, burgers, and our full guide on raising vegan kids next.
Find main meals like kid-friendly vegan dinner ideas as well as plant-based recipes that work for lunchboxes and are perfectly portable! Most of these easy recipes work well for picky eaters, too.Savory Kid-Friendly Vegan Recipes
White Sauce Pasta with Veggies
This recipe is so beginner-friendly, the hardest part is choosing, washing and chopping your vegetables! While you do so, cook your pasta on the stove according to the package instructions. This family-friendly dinner idea is ready in 30 minutes total — including the simple vegan white sauce.
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Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
Ready to whip up a scrumptious everyday dinner? This vegan tater tot casserole is made with mixed veggies and vegan chicken chunks with a delicious cashew gravy poured over and topped with a crispy tater tot crust! Definitely try this kid-friendly vegan recipe.
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Photo credit: www.veganblueberry.com
Mexican Black Bean Hand Pies
These super child-friendly flaky vegan hand pies are delicious finger foods that also work for parties! The flavors are loosely Mexican and the recipe is inspired by South American empanadas, but using store-bought pastry and pantry-friendly ingredients.
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Photo credit: quitegoodfood.co.nz
Cheesy Vegetable Lasagna
Creamy, comforting and secretly veggie-stuffed: this delicious vegan lasagna is the ultimate crowd-pleaser straight from the oven! Undetectably plant-based and really hearty, it’s the perfect family- and kid-friendly vegan dinner.
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English Muffin Mini Veggie Pizzas
These super-simple English muffin pizzas are perfect for lunch, dinner or even as a snack. They are versatile and work for even the pickiest of eaters — especially kids! Use the veggies of your choice and bake these mini pizzas for only 10 minutes for a delicious kid-friendly vegan recipe.
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Photo credit: eatplant-based.com
Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs
We couldn’t skip any kid’s favorite dinner: spaghetti and meatballs! This vegan recipe is just like the classic comfort food, deliciously saucy and incredibly easy to make. It features cauliflower, quinoa, breadcrumbs and lots of tasty spices!
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Photo credit: jessicainthekitchen.com
Creamy Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
If you’re up for a healthier twist on traditional mac and cheese, try this whole food plant-based version! If kid-approved, add some steamed broccoli alongside whole-grain pasta and a creamy, low-fat vegan cheese sauce made with carrots, cashews and nutritional yeast.
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Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
Any kid loves using their hands when eating! That’s what tacos are for. These crispy buffalo cauliflower-filled shells pack crunchy chickpeas, some greens, avocado and fresh tomato salsa. So scrumptious!
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Roasted Red Pepper Soup
This vibrantly red soup is so comforting and couldn’t be easier to make. The delicious combination of red peppers, tomato and onion, roasted to perfection, offers a delightfully sweet taste and deep flavor! Serve with some toast and vegan cream.
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Photo credit: itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Baked vegan mac and cheese — the epitome of comfort food! Loaded with rich, cheesy and buttery goodness that'll have everyone coming back for seconds, it’s a great kid-friendly vegan weeknight dinner.
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Photo credit: veganhuggs.com
Creamy Chickpea Noodle Soup
Moving on to more comfort food! This creamy chickpea noodle soup is a vegan twist on chicken soup and made with simple pantry ingredients. It’s loaded with warm and cozy flavors that will have your family and kids cleaning their bowls in a matter of minutes!
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Photo credit: midwestfoodieblog.com
One-Pot Pasta Marinara
If you’re up for a healthy and convenient dinner, this delicious vegan one-pot pasta recipe will be your new favorite! It’s flavorful, easy to make, requires only 10 minutes of hands-on time and is made from cheap staple foods. Plus, it hides a whole bunch of veggies!
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Loaded Vegan Potato Nachos
Ready to enjoy in 35 minutes total, these loaded vegan potato nachos are bursting with Mexican flavor! Super kid-friendly and customizable, they feature healthy ingredients such as black beans, cashews, tomato and lots of spices.
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Photo credit: alternativedish.com
Easy Vegan Bean Burritos
Hearty, colorful and portable — these vegan bean burritos are our go-to lunch! Easily customizable, flavorful and really healthy, they are a great vegan meal idea for kids and adults alike.
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Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
These healthy oven-baked sweet potato fries can be spiced to your liking and are perfect for dipping into ketchup, vegan sour cream or anything else you fancy! Super kid-friendly finger food, naturally gluten-free and easy to pair with many other plant-based foods.
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Lentil Carrot Hot Dogs
Another kid-favorite gone vegan and healthy! These veggie hot dogs are made with pureed lentils, carrots, smoked paprika and garlic powder which ensure great texture and taste. They are undetectably packed with nutrients — a true hit!
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Photo credit: veggiedesserts.com
Vegan Dan Dan Noodles
If you and your family can handle some heat, then try this vegan version of a Sichuan takeout legend! Savory, easy to make and featuring scrumptious plant-based meat substitute, this dinner idea comes with a flavorful sauce and a few veggies of your choice.
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Photo credit: thevegconnection.com
Butternut Squash Black Bean Enchiladas
When you have a little more time over the weekend, why not treat your family to some filling butternut squash black bean enchiladas? It’s perfect for cold days and an easy, warming dish that’s very satisfying. Kids really love them!
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Photo credit: minimalistbaker.com
Veggie Chili Sin Carne
Great for meal prep and to get some more veggies on your family’s plates, this vegan chili is one of our favorite protein-packed vegan dinners! Using a variety of pantry staples and spices, you can finely chop whatever veggies you want to include and serve the chili on its own, with rice, tortilla chips, cornbread or baked potatoes!
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Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich
It’s probably safe to say that you cannot go wrong with this family-friendly recipe and now, you can make it secretly vegan for everyone to enjoy. This healthy grilled cheese sandwich is made with avocado, spinach, cashew mayo and slices of smoked tofu!
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Potato Vegetable Croquettes
These crispy potato and vegetable croquettes are the perfect finger food for the whole family! Easily hiding a bunch of veggies, they are super versatile and easy to make. Let the kids help make them and then offer a bunch of their favorite dips alongside these tasty and savory patties!
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Simple Sesame Noodles
As a busy mom, you’re often in need of super simple go-to dinners! This easy pantry-friendly recipe for takeout-style sesame noodles is made with whole-wheat pasta tossed with rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil and scallions. On the table in 30 minutes!
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Photo credit: www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com
Spanish Rice and Beans
This budget-friendly one-pot Spanish rice and beans recipe is a great family dinner idea. Made with easy-to-find pantry ingredients, it has a deep flavor and can be served on its own or with a salad dressed with an easy yogurt garlic sauce.
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Photo credit: whereismyspoon.co
Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes
These lentil and cauliflower sloppy joes are a lightened-up yet pretty close version of traditional sloppy joes you may remember from your own childhood. Nobody will assume there’s a whole head of cauliflower in this recipe or that it’s refined sugar- and oil-free! Super healthy and kid-friendly vegan comfort food at its best.
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Photo credit: wellvegan.com
Baked Vegan Falafel Tacos
Have you ever tried putting falafel in a taco? This tasty twist and combination of 2 classic plant-based dishes make for a handy lunch or dinner. Once again, finger food is always a winner when it comes to kids and these tacos are the perfect mixture of fresh, crunchy, and satiating.
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Baked Japanese Spring Rolls
If your family enjoys Asian food, try these baked Japanese spring rolls! Made with filo pastry, they are a delicious starter (or main for small children) filled with different veggies and served with a simple dipping sauce.
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Photo credit: www.mrsjoneskitchen.com
Vegan Cheese Fries
Why not treat your family to this richer version of baked potatoes topped with grated vegan cheese and mayonnaise? You can follow this kid-friendly vegan recipe using either store-bought dairy alternatives or make your healthier versions at home if you like.
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Photo credit: itstodiefor.ca
Creamy Potato Broccoli Casserole
If you’re in the mood for some comfort food, why not try out this cheesy potato casserole? It’s made with no-fuss ingredients and can hide any veggies you like. You won’t believe how creamy things can get without any cheese, oil, or butter! We love that with just 30 minutes of preparation (plus baking time), this kid-friendly vegan recipe is ready to feed a whole crowd.
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One Pot Vegan Chili Mac
Looking for a plant-based comfort dish that the entire family will love? Give this easy-to-make vegan chili mac recipe a try! Macaroni, kidney beans, tomatoes and corn are combined with a spicy blend of seasoning and vegan cheese for a tasty twist on the traditional chili mac.
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Photo credit: www.marathonsandmotivation.com
Vegan Frittata Muffins
Nutrient-dense, savory and really tasty, frittata muffins are a great vegan recipe idea for kids! Smaller in size, they are perfect for any grab-and-go occasion, high in protein and packed with veggies. These muffins are versatile and can be made ahead of time, too!
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Photo credit: thishealthykitchen.com
Vegan Carrot Potato Cakes
These potato cakes are crispy from the outside but super soft from the inside and really easy to make! Using leftover mashed potatoes, rice, carrots, onion and parsley, they are naturally gluten-free, freezable and suitable not just for kids but also toddlers.
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Photo credit: littlesunnykitchen.com
Veggie Pasta Salad
This simple gluten-free pasta salad is bursting with healthy vegetables and delicious Italian dressing. Great for picnics during summer or as a portable kid-friendly vegan lunch, it’s easy to make in just 15 minutes if you have cooked pasta on hand!
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Photo credit: www.mommafitlyndsey.com
Vegan Potato Volcanoes
Now, this is how you can make dinner fun for your kids! These awesome mashed potato volcanoes with homemade “lava sauce” work well with some kid-friendly veggies like green peas on the side. Eat at once, before the lava solidifies into magma!
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Photo credit: theveganatlas.com
Pasta in Coconut Milk Sauce
If you’re in need of a quick kid-friendly vegan recipe, try this pasta in coconut milk sauce! Only a handful of staple ingredients such as garlic, canned tomatoes, veggie stock and coconut milk are needed to make this pasta-forward vegan dinner in less than 30 minutes.
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Photo credit: whereismyspoon.co
Homemade Spaghetti O’s
Spaghetti-O’s are an American childhood classic: thick, creamy and tomatoey pasta in a can. Here is how you can make this kid-friendly vegan dinner from scratch! Only 4 ingredients plus some spices like onion and garlic powder are needed for this incredible 10-minute recipe.
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Photo credit: strengthandsunshine.com
Here are some sweet vegan recipes for kids ranging from oatmeal and pancakes for breakfast to healthy cookies, cookie dough bars and chocolate banana bread! Serve as sweet snacks, desserts or any time of the day.Sweet Kid-Friendly Vegan Recipes
3-Ingredient Vegan Pancakes
Every child would be happy to eat these 3-ingredient pancakes in the morning! It’s a simple and healthy vegan breakfast idea made with oats, banana and coconut milk. Serve with fresh fruit or maple syrup!
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Photo credit: biteswithbri.com
Vegan Cookie Cake
This delicious vegan cookie cake is the perfect combination of moist cookie and scrumptious, slightly sweet cake that can be dressed up to your liking! High in protein and sugar-free, this simple-to-make treat is totally kid-approved and ready to eat in around 30 minutes.
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Vegan French Toast Sticks
Family-friendly and insanely easy, these vegan French toast sticks are a true hit with kids! Move over, sliced bread — it’s way more entertaining to have batons that you can dunk and swish in maple syrup.
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Photo credit: zardyplants.com
Stuffed Almond Milk Crêpes
This delicate, velvety kid-friendly breakfast option or dessert is like a super thin version of pancakes and similar to sweet wraps, just waiting to be filled with all the delicious vegan treats you can think of from nut butter to fruit, coconut whip or date caramel sauce. The batter is egg-free and quickly made in a blender and the crêpes can be served as a sweet or savory meal!
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Chocolate Chickpea Ice Cream
Kids sure love ice cream! How about making a super healthy, whole food plant-based vegan chocolate ice cream that’s secretly rich in protein thanks to chickpeas and even naturally sweetened with dates? Complete with a peanut butter swirl, it’s a delicious homemade family-friendly treat.
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Fluffy Vegan Lemon Loaf
Super moist and tender, undetectably vegan and gluten-free — this scrumptious vegan lemon loaf ticks so many boxes! Topped with a 3-ingredient lemon drizzle, this baked goodness is suitable for the whole family thanks to its sweet notes of vanilla and crumb texture.
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Photo credit: thebananadiaries.com
No-Bake Peanut Butter Mousse Pie
If you haven’t been convinced that vegan desserts can be both beautiful and tasty, let this vegan peanut butter mousse pie blow you away. It’s a no-bake recipe made from mostly wholesome foods and just 8 ingredients! This creamy goodness is relatively quick to whip up and a must-try kid-friendly vegan treat.
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Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Make these healthy oatmeal cookies ahead of time to have a healthy snack ready at all times! They require only 4 ingredients, less than 30 minutes of your time and can be customized to your liking. If your kids don’t enjoy regular oatmeal, this is how you can get some healthy whole grains into their bellies!
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Photo credit: cookingjourneyblog.com
Banana Apple Crumble
Sugar-free, gluten-free and just all-around good for you: this easy-to-make apple crumble is sweetened with banana, requires very little equipment and makes your kitchen smell fantastic! You can customize it using seasonal produce and serve it to your kids fresh out of the oven with some coconut ice cream on top.
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Chocolate Coconut Bliss Balls
Little bite-sized treats are among the best kid-friendly vegan recipes! If they enjoyed Bounty bars in the past, you need to try these homemade chocolate coconut bliss balls made with just 4 healthy ingredients. Best enjoyed cold out the of the fridge and your kids can even help make them!
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Healthy Cookie Dough Bars
Another way to satisfy cookie cravings with wholesome ingredients are these vegan cookie dough bars. A layer of homemade almond flour cookie dough is topped with smooth dark chocolate — pretty much everything kids love!
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Photo credit: organicallyaddison.com
Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread
Try this everyday vegan banana bread recipe that’s sweetened only with ripe bananas! Featuring simple staple foods, it takes under an hour total and can be used for breakfast, as a snack or to put in your kid’s lunchbox.
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Photo credit: nourishplate.com
Vegan S’mores Cookies
These delicious and kid-friendly vegan cookies bring all the campfire taste without the fear of burning your marshmallow or dripping chocolate all over. They are extremely easy to make and a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
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Photo credit: chelseapeachtree.com
Blueberry Banana Oat Bake
If you’re new to baked oats, this vegan blueberry banana goodness definitely won’t disappoint! It’s sweet, chewy, delicious, and healthy, making it a great energy-boosting breakfast or snack for the whole family.
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Photo credit: bombveg.com
More easy vegan recipes
If you liked this selection of kid-friendly vegan recipes, check out the following hand-picked lists next!
- 35+ Cold Vegan Lunch Ideas
- 25+ Plant-Based Smoothies
- 20+ Best Vegan Bliss Balls
- 33+ No-Bake & Raw Vegan Desserts
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best kid-friendly vegan recipes! Let us know in the comments which recipe you are going to make for your kids and be sure to Pin this article here.
Here are over 40 delicious recipes your kids will actually like! From easy mini pizzas to lots of creamy pasta dishes, bite-sized snacks and healthy cookies, these kid-friendly vegan recipes are super crowd-pleasing and undetectably plant-based.
Serves 2
Ingredients
Pizza crust
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour 150 g
- 1 packet instant yeast
- 1 tsp Italian herbs dried
- ½ salt
- ½ cup warm water 120 ml
Toppings
- ½ - ¾ cup tomato sauce about 160 ml
- ½ small onion sliced
- ¼ bell pepper sliced
- 2 cherry tomatoes sliced
- 3 tbsp corn kernels
- 3 small button mushrooms sliced
- 1 oz smoked tofu diced (30 g)
Optional
- Sundried tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Chickpeas
- Cheese sauce
- Almond ricotta
- Buffalo cauliflower bites
- Store-bought vegan cheese shreds
- Fresh basil
- Olives
Instructions
Make the crust
- Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, add warm water and knead well. Adjust water and flour in case the dough is too sticky or too dry.
- Form dough into a ball and let it sit in a warm place, covered, for 20 minutes.
- Alternatively, you can use any store-bought vegan pizza dough.
- Preheat your oven to 400° F (200° C) and get a baking sheet or pan.
Prepare the toppings
- Wash, chop or rinse all of the vegan pizza toppings your kid will love and place them next to each other on a plate or in little bowls.
- Ask your children if they want to help make the pizza!
Make the pizza
- Once the dough has risen, flour a clean surface and briefly knead it.
- Use your hands or a rolling pin to work the dough into a 12” circle, then transfer it to your parchment paper-lined pizza pan or baking sheet.
- Spread your tomato sauce evenly on the crust with a spoon, then sprinkle all desired toppings on your pizza crust!
- Put the pizza in the oven for around 20 minutes or until the crust is golden on the edges. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
- While it is healthier to make your own whole-grain pizza crust, if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to make your own crust, simply use any store-bought pizza crust (check the label to see if it’s vegan).
- Depending on what your kids like, you can add any mock meats, vegan cheese or olives etc. to your pizza.
- You can swap the whole wheat flour for gluten-free if needed.
- Find 40+ more easy and tasty vegan recipes your kids will love in the article above!
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Alena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.
What lovely recipes. I can’t wait to try them!
Hey Ellie,
I’m glad you like the recipes! It’s so important to make vegan foods really satiating and tasty – the best way to convince others of this diet.
Let us know how things go :)
Great recipes! I was just wondering if you have any advice for me! This is the second month of my family being vegan, and for the most part, it is going pretty well. My son (9), however, is my biggest concern. He hates the texture of all beans, can’t stomach Hummus, hates cooked veggies of all kinds, oatmeal, and is in general, a very picky eater. I am pretty sure it is a texture thing! I am just worried about his health. He will eat all fruits and veggies raw, but what else do I do to ensure that he is receiving the nutrition he needs.
Hi there Julie,
glad you liked the article! We don’t have any children ourselves, so I’m not too familiar with this problem. I would like for you to check in with a plant-based nutritionist or doctor on this if possible. Maybe he’ll eat some more processed legumes like textured vegetable protein made from soy? It imitates chicken and beef pretty well from what I’ve heard. Or go for soy milk and soy yogurt, they have a different texture as well. These foods provide protein and fats, too :)
Hope this helps!
– Alena
Your recipes look and sound amazing. I am about to embark on a plant based life style along with my three sons 12, 10 and 7 yrs old. I always cook from scratch and include lots of fruit and veg but I want to cut us down on the meat and dairy consumption. Not cut it out completely but have it occasionally. Reading up on what animals go through and how they are mass produced and what they are pumped with before it goes in our mouths is very off putting
Ive been transitioning to plant based for the past two months. I still eat fish due to some insecurity about having adequate protein. I do however trust that I can get enough protein through plants but am still feeling my way. Just want to say, I love your site and my health has improved already due to the change. Skin is also looking much better! Thankyou!
These are all such great ideas! Can’t wait to try some!!
I can’t wait to try all of these I’m a young mom of a 5 and 6 year old with our third on the way and we are super excited to make the transition to vegans and plant based eaters this has definitely pointed me in the right direction Thank you so much
aww sounds wonderful, Maya! Congrats on your beautiful family and great that you all enjoy plant-based meals together :)