A vegan lifestyle can be a healthy choice, provided a nutritional balance is reached. For kids, vegan foods may seem unusual or different, unless they have been raised to eat them. But with some fun ideas, you'll be getting your kids to eat vegan recipes in no time. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Smoothies
Fruit is a nutritious snack for kids, and fruit smoothies can be fun and easy. Make your smoothies dairy-free for a vegan-friendly variety. Try these combinations:
Use frozen peaches mixed with orange juice, soy milk and wheat germ. Or substitute the peaches for strawberries, and add in a banana as well. Use frozen mixed berries and apple or grape juice instead of orange juice for another combination.
If you don't have frozen fruits on hand, you can use fresh fruits and ice cubes to make your smoothies appropriately frozen. In any case, using soy milk and wheat germ adds the right consistency and nutrition to your smoothie recipe. You can also substitute instant oats for the wheat germ, and even add in some vanilla for added flavoring.
Power Up Pancakes
You can purchase vegan pancake mix at health-food stores. Add some protein and flavor to yours by making the mix as usual, and adding a few extra ingredients. Add vanilla extract and vanilla-flavored soy protein powder to give sweetness and healthy protein to your breakfast flapjacks. Then add some cinnamon and sugar for a little extra flavor. These pancakes will give your child the nutrition she needs and the protein her body craves.
If your child isn't a fan of cinnamon, try other ingredients: sliced bananas and walnuts, or blueberries and almonds. Your child will still get healthy protein from the nuts, and even the added benefit of fruit.
Substitutes in Traditional Favorites
Traditional kid-favorite foods can be made into vegan recipes with a few simple substitutions.
For example, use Ener-G "Egg" substitutes in your baking dishes, like cookies and cakes. You can also purchase vegan cheese-substitute products for eating on sandwiches or cooking in meals. Egg-free brownie recipes are available at vegweb.com; use vegan chocolate chips to make homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Cups.
You can use tofu to substitute for meats in traditional recipes, including tofu sausage for breakfast or "tofurkey" in a stir-fry. In some recipes, you can simply eliminate the dairy products and make something just as tasty, and in other cases you may want to substitute with soy milk or similar products.
Tags: wheat germ, healthy protein, kids vegan, milk wheat, milk wheat germ, orange juice, purchase vegan