need vegetarian meals that picky omni kids will eat

**RaineyDaye** · 05-03-2011, 05:16 PM

I need help with meal planning! My grandkids are coming to visit this weekend. I don't have any meat in the the house, and I don't want to buy any (it's been over a year since I bought meat, and I've now used up all that I had on hand a year ago). Here are the few foods my very picky 10 year old granddaughter likes: spaghetti, cornflake chicken, and pizza. My 12 year old grandson loves to eat, but he may turn up his nose at my vegetarian food. I know some of you cook vegetarian or vegan meals for your kids, so I'd like to know what are your favorite things to cook that they all like. Thanks!

**dancemommy** · 05-03-2011, 05:26 PM

I think pizza would probably be my kids top choice. I don't know if you do eggs, but breakfast foods are always good or pancakes. Bean burritos or cheese quesadillas? Grilled cheese or paninis? Soups?

**daylily** · 05-03-2011, 05:27 PM

Most kids like spaghetti. Would they notice if there was no meat in it? Do you have TVP? It could be used in place of the meat in spaghetti. Lots of big supermarkets have vegetarian "meat" now, even pepperoni. Maybe some of those would work on pizza. I wish I could be more help but I haven't eaten meat for over 40 years and most of the relatives I cook for don't eat it either. I don't even remember what it tastes like.

**shoiji** · 05-03-2011, 05:41 PM

I have made burgers out of beans and rice. A bean chilli would be good. You could make nachos with it.

Macaroni and cheese is always a good standby.

If they ask what is for dinner just tell them something yummy.

Tempeh can act like a good meat substitute. If you made some creamed vegetables and added the tempeh you could probably make a really good pot pie.

Also fun things like fruit smoothies, s'mores, strawberry shortcake, chocolate pizza (hazelnut spread on cooked pizza dough) etc., can encourage them to eat their meal so they can have a little dessert.

**Libby** · 05-03-2011, 06:04 PM

Can you use fake ground meat - ie soy? (like vegetarian soy burgers?) Make meatballs for the spaghetti or make a casserole type dish with it?

Chunky vegetable chili with beans is another good mock chili - serve over rice or noodles or chips

Lastly anything with cheese ontop - I find that picky eaters can't resist cheese - the ones that I've encountered.

**Josephhgoins** · 05-03-2011, 06:29 PM

I have no suggestions, other than don't forget cereal! Kids love that.

I do have to share a story shared by a friend of mien a few years ago. Apparently her 2 nieces were coming to spend the weekend with her mom. The nieces mother (friends sister in law) starts giving the mom an example of the kinds of foods the kids would eat. They were being raised completely vegitarian and did not eat any meats not even eggs. The Grandmother is getting annoyed and saying that she had no idea what to cook when the mother said "you keep bologna, just give them bologna sandwich, they will be fine. They are only staying for an evening". My friend had to walk away and aparently no one in the vegatarian household understood that bologna was meat.

**lisaflex** · 05-03-2011, 06:43 PM

mac n cheese is always a hit with kids. make homemade pizza w/ them...make mini pizzas and let them pick their own toppings. salad? celery and cream cheese. do they eat hummus? hummus and whole wheat pitas and some celery and cucumber spears can be considered a meal here....on a truly picky day that is! cheese and crackers?

**itsahumanzoo** · 05-03-2011, 08:48 PM

These burritos are amazing

Lentil & Rice Burritos ? Cooking During Stolen Moments

We are meat eaters, especially my husband, but the whole family loved these.

**Daisygirl** · 05-03-2011, 09:01 PM

My kids really dislike the "fake meat". We do a lot of ethnic foods. Italian (fettucini alfredo), Mexican (Bean burritoes, taco salad, enchiladas, nachos), Indian (probably not going to be a hit if they are picky), Asian (stir fries).

For simpler, more familiar foods, how about grilled cheese sandwiches with soup? PB&J? Also, we love "breakfast for dinner". I think a lot of these options will work.

I'd give them a couple of options for each meal and go with that!

**brennasmom** · 05-03-2011, 09:14 PM

Bean enchiladas (we just had these for dinner!)

**2ndGenGranola** · 05-04-2011, 01:43 AM

I'd use caution about using fake meat on kids who are used to real meat. First, it is not going to fool them. They may not know what it is but it is going to taste funny. Then, some of the subs cause tummy issues in those not used to them. You don't want kids with cramps and the runs.

Presentation and cutesy names will win them faster than trying to sneak stuff past their taste buds. I remember some kids trying to trade their goodies for my kids plain airpopped popcorn because I had packaged it in a cutesy bag.

I'd look at some kind of quiche with mild veggies and call it some kind of pie. My kids love pasta salad with colorful veggies/beans added in - black beans, colored peppers, corn, frozen green peas (they love frozen peas) with a mild, sweet dressing on top. How about a vegetarian baked beans meal? You could even buy Bush's vegetarian. Grill some veggies and put them on a hot dog bun.

**Emeraldfire** · 05-04-2011, 11:26 AM

Some of my kids favorite: Bean burritos, Lasagna, Spaghetti, Tostadas, Breakfast for dinner, Fajitas made with vegetarian chicken or beef strips, Cheese enchiladas and Pizza. If you don't say anything, usually kids won't notice it's missing meat if the foods are familiar.