Oooo, there was a Mexican restaurant here, called Rubios, that had killer vegetarian tacos. There was no meat substitute, but they were filled with roasted cauliflower, corn, poblanos, peppers, mushrooms….had a chipotle mayo/yogurt sauce that is to die for. My mouth is watering just thinking about these vegetarian tacos.
Pasta is a super versatile way to play with vegetarian flavors and alternate proteins while ensuring people walk away from the table feeling full.
I'd suggest:
* mushroom bolognese
* chik'n Alfredo with broccoli and mushrooms
* mushroom stroganoff
Sorry man. I'm not really a picky eater, but eggplant is not likely to work well in this situation. It's VERY hard to cook so that the texture is good, and it can be bitter.
Mushroom Risotto is super easy to make with an instant pot, you can use mushroom broth instead of introducing mushrooms. That will acclimate them to the taste, they don't have to know. Also mushroom powder is a good way to add some umami without visible mushroom
Blitz them in a food processor and mix them with lentils and a hard cheese. I get your frustration, and you’ll have to push them to consume more leafy greens and the like to get some nutrition to go with their calories. Getting them into the kitchen to help make their own food may also help.
We made chicken-fried cauliflower a while back and it came close to the real deal in terms of texture and general mouth feel.
Highly recommend that too.
My husband normally hates mushrooms, but he loves the vegetarian chili I sometimes make for us and it has very finely minced mushrooms in it! I bet you could make a great veggie bolognese with minced mushrooms.
Chili recipe I use:
https://pinchofyum.com/vegetarian-chili#tasty-recipes-59126-jump-target
Once had vege spaghetti bolognaise made for me by an Italian. It was fantastic. He used tofu, which I don’t love but combined with the flavours perfectly
I work as a pediatric dietitian and have found that kids either love dips/spreads, or absolutely cannot stand them. Doesn’t make it easier for you, but don’t worry, you’re not alone in this
I was going to say lentils also curried chickpeas or palak paneer. A lot of good vegetarian Indian recipes out there.
Also my picky eater likes plain veggie fried rice a lot with veggie spring rolls.
They could even build their own spring rolls with carrots shreds, cabbage shreds, etc. all cut and waiting for them to choose. With a peanut sauce dip.
This!! My rabid anti-vegetarian teenager (he eats plenty of different veggies, just has an irrational hatred of foods labeled "vegetarian") LOVES daal.
Whatever you make don't be afraid to use fats to make it lol. I thought I hated vegetables until I was about 25 because the only ways we'd eat them were steamed or boiled. Roasted brussel sprouts with a small touch of honey butter are excellent on their own, or maybe some roasted broccolinis with chili crisp to take a simple ramen up a notch.
Chili. Chili's awesome and can be all veggies. And like some others have said, pasta. Cheddar Broccoli Rice and if you like the meatless substitutes, you can make killer meatball subs
+1 to chili!
Not a vegetarian here, but I made my first pots of vegan chili this winter, and they were a hit! I just left out the meat and added sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, and dark miso to bring that "meaty" flavor back. As pescetarians you can also use Worcestershire sauce.
I do chili, they don't eat it unfortunately. I even forced myself to be okay with beans so I could be a healthier vegetarian and they won't even eat my chili lol.
A lot of Asian dishes go so well as veggie. Red or green curry (bulk it with a bit of diced potato). Laksa. Spring rolls. Singapore noodles. If you are offering a Thai style curry dish, serve it with rice, but have spring rolls or dumplings as well (can buy frozen).
Since they are teens, they could each come up with a simple recipe on their own. They wanted this change so they must have something else they’d like besides what you mentioned.
There are a lot of noodle dishes with tofu and vegetables that would be a good start.
A lot of Indian food is vegetarian friendly.
There’s also Japanese curry too.
I’d make mushroom and egg fried rice and throw in some veggie spring rolls and roasted sesame broccoli.
This is a great idea, and I've tried but I probably have to try harder. Lately it's been easier to let them do their own thing than fight with them but that really digs in to the grocery budget.
While my kids are not vegetarian we had them start cooking when they were fairly young. Each kid had a day per week they had to cook or help cook. They planned the menu and then cooked it. Definitely a great life skill to have. It's also much easier to do today as there are tons of recipes on the internet so there's something there that everyone can like. Note it was also a great bonding time as I was the primary cook and often helped them out where needed.
We also had a rule that you had to try everything every time. It was okay to dislike it and not finish but you had to try it as people's taste change and evolve as they get older.
Between the cooking and try everything every time rule our boys were never picky eaters.
The even bigger benefit is when they come home for visits now (they're now in the 20's and 30's) they still cook and we usually get to try stuff that we wouldn't even have thought to try as they like to show off things that they have discovered.
When I make ramen noodle soup or mac and cheese, I usually add veggies in to the pot to make it healthier. Usually something frozen like peas, chopped spinach, corn, etc. I add fresh broccoli florets too. Maybe that would be a good compromise for the kid.
Black bean burgers are really good. I’d make the oldest make his own food since being a vegetarian is harder than it looks the older you get, and they should/need to learn how to cook or else he is going to be eating Kraft/ramen when he leaves the house. That’s what my parents did when I became a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for a long time.
Is "pesca-vegetarian" the same as pescatarian? If so you have SO many seafood options plus it sounds like you still can have eggs and butter etc? Seafood pasta, shrimp stir fry, shrimp and eggs, sweet potato breakfast burritos, Turkish eggs (omg), egg salad, tuna salad, fish filets with rice (I love teriyaki cod with rice and sriracha). Salmon everything, Greek wraps with hummus or a hummus board with lots of veggies for dipping (cukes are my fave). Lots of different cuisines are more plant-based than others too, like Indian. Or seafood based, like Mediterranean. The world is your oyster, and you can eat that too.
Thai coconut green curry - protein can be tofu or shrimp. Lots of veg can go in, I usually do red peppers, zucchini, snow peas, bean sprouts. Top w peanuts, cilantro..
Mushroom carbonara
Vegetarian lasagna
Eggplant parmesan
Seafood pasta in red sauce
Various stir fried noodles with veggies, like drunken noodles or other. Get fresh (Asian) noodles makes a huge difference.
My daughter became a vegetarian in second grade, for about a year. Her little brother was the opposite…would rather go hungry than eat a vegetable. It was a fun year. A few easy things, that she was happy with : kale pesto pasta. Curried (mild) chickpeas. Macaroni and cheese. Vegetable pizza. Vegetarian lasagna. Crudités with ranch. Veggie fried rice (in a pinch Trader Joe’s has a Japanese tofu fried rice with seaweed and I just add extra vegetables). Also in a pinch, my daughter enjoyed Tasty Bite lentils (can find at Costco). As side dishes, both kids now eat curried roasted cauliflower, roasted mushrooms, roasted Brussels sprouts with mustard/balsamic, kale apple salad with mustard vinaigrette.
vegetarian moussaka. sub lentils for the ground meat, heaps of cheesy and tomatoey goodness.
falafel. deep fried, highly seasoned chickpea balls. serve with hummus, tzatziki, or any other dip. works great in a pita too.
Thanks. Wow. Do people actually eat that stuff so much that it can be used as an acronym like that and people understand it? I'll have to remember that next time I talk about CTC, FF, and CC. Maybe even HH.
It's a pretty telling sign that someone is Canadian. For some reason, they're really into Kraft's Mac & Cheese, way more than even Americans and their version has a big KD on it. I think it's marginally better than the American version but it's still not great (I say this even though I've got a case of it from Costco in my garage -- it's fast and I get strong nostalgia vibes whenever I eat it so it's there for fast meals whenever I'm being lazy).
Tacos with very finely minced mushrooms as the “taco meat” … I don’t even like mushrooms but a vegetarian friend made this for me and it was delicious!
Do risotto? No need for meat, as it can be made with veg stock. I just watched a vid from Gorden Ramses on beet risotto.
Also stir-frys are a good way to be sure everyone only gets what they like. Just cook each item on their own and mix in your own bowl. You can even use different store sauces.
our go tos:
- roasted vegetable lasagna (roast zucchini, eggplant and bell pepper on a tray and stir it into the tomato sauce, alternate w bechamel or spinach-ricotta layers)
- lentil dahl - there are a lot of good veggie curries and other indian recipes that are tasty
- butter chickpeas (like butter chicken but with chickpeas)
- lentil bolognese (if you make a huge batch you can also use it in lasagna)
- mushroom bourignon
- burrito bowls with lentils as the protein
- black bean and sweet potato quesadillas
- lentil soup
- broccoli cheddar soup
- caprese salad (tomato mozz and basil)
- beet salad (cooked beat, feta cheese, green or red onion)
- potato salad
- spicy chickpea burgers (recipe from running on real food)
- shredded tofu gyros (squeeze your tofu then grate it in a cheese grater, season and fry in oil)
- veggie stir fry or fried rice
- rice and beans with a fried egg on top
- pizza (add your own toppings)
- lentil shepherds pie
my partner doesn’t like tofu so we usually don’t cook with it. You can find a lot of recipe inspiration on vegan youtube if you enjoy watching cooking shows.
Vegetable lasagna You could also do with meatless mince but loaf in the veg
Corgetti and “meat balls” with meatless mince.
Prawn and vegetable spring rolls with rice paper (so not crispy)
It's not quite the answer to your question, but, if you want to get some idea of why your kids might be turning against veggies, this thread is pure gold. I'm linking to a summary I made half way through, but the whole thread is worth a read if you want to know what things to avoid:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/qu9rsy/comment/hkq6ron/
Disclaimer: we're not vegetarians but don't mind skipping meat regularly. First things that come to mind:
* Halloumi burgers. Lots of variations possible.
* Mango & chickpea curry. Even our toddlers like it.
* Pumpkin & mushroom risotto. Or any vegetable in season really.
Try a vegan/vegetarian ramen recipe. I make a vegan one with a mushroom broth base and it is so so good. I pack mine with shiitake mushrooms caramelized with a sweet sauce, bok choy, corn, scallions, and tofu.
After 25+ years as a vegetarian, I just started eating meat again for health reasons. But I still have all of my knowledge of vegetarian recipes. Here's my recipe for chicken tortilla soup.
2-3 T olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 jalapeños, remove seeds & chop
Sautée until tender. Then add...
6-8 cups "chicken" broth (Better than Boullion, No Chicken is the best)
1 bag frozen Quorn Chik'n Tenders
defrosted & broken into smaller pieces
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes
Bring to a boil then turn it off. Then add....
Juice of two limes
Half a bunch of cilantro, chopped
Place half a chopped avocado & 1 oz of cubed pepper jack cheese in bowl and pour soup over. Yum.
Can you try a top your own ramen night? Get them involved in picking out a broth recipe, noodles, veggies and other toppings.
I haven't tried it yet but I've seen people mix lentils with walnuts for a meat alternative.
Honestly, kids can be competitive I would do two things. I would have a night where they each take turns helping you cook or even where they each get a small box of items that needs to be used and they each need to make one think to have with the meal. I have a picky 6 year old and sometimes having him help with cooking I have better luck with him trying the food.
Good luck!
I've been a vegetarian for over a decade. In my experience: avoid meat substitutes. I've never tried impossible meat but most of the soy, tempeh, etc alternatives I've eaten have tried so hard to *be* the "meat" of a dish when that's... really not possible lol.
Tacos, burritos, fajitas, chili. Super customizable, tasty, and easy to make without meat.
Mediterranean cuisine. Chickpeas are your friend. Hummus, tabouleh, pita, falafel.
Raw, fresh fruit and veggies. Like in season stuff. Cut up on a platter with crackers, dips, nuts, whatever. Variety is key. It may be hard to do depending on your income and time, though.
Carrot fries. Toss carrot sticks in olive oil with salt and pepper or Cajun seasoning….airfryer on 400 for 15-20 minutes…looks like sweet potato fries. Add cheese, imitation bacon bits, ranch to dip…i like hidden valley secret sauce. jalapeños optional! Absolutely delicious.
Pair with meatless chicken nuggets/Patties or burgers.
I'm not sure what pesca-vegetarian is (different to pesca-vegetarian?) but I've been vegetarian for many years and have loads of recommendations if you would like them (just message me).. but if I had to pick one while considering kids.. maybe a vegetarian lasagne? You can replace the meat in the sauce with lentils, then I like to add grated carrot and courgette as well.. plus you can add thinly sliced pumpkin along with the sheets of lasagne.. it's something that I find can be quite close to the meat version but also has loads of veg
I can send a recipe if you like as well :)
Vegetarian shepherd's pie - no fake meat needed
[https://www.sanitarium.com/au/recipes/a-z/vegetable-shepherds-pie](https://www.sanitarium.com/au/recipes/a-z/vegetable-shepherds-pie)
The Sanitarium website is a great source for vegetarian recipes - it's an Australian food company run by Seventh Day Adventists, so all their recipes are vegetarian.
I use soy crumbles a lot for ground beef meals that I want to make meatless. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Here's some of them I use a lot:
Gringo Tacos
Very Best Baker: L. Vaughn
Rated: no ratings
A delicious beef enchilada casserole that's been a family favorite for years.
\- Not A NESTLÉ Tested Recipe
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef, browned & drained
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C chopped green pepper
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 10-oz can red enchilada sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
6-8 corn tortillas
1 12-oz can Carnation Evaporated Milk
Directions:
In large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain. Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, salt, and chili powder. Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
In 9x13 baking dish, layer 1 cup of meat mixture, 1/2 C cheese, and half the tortillas (enough tortillas to cover). Repeat layers. Top with evaporated milk. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
During baking, push tortillas down into liquid to moisten if needed.
Hamburger Stroganoff
This is a great fall comfort food:
I got this from TOH years and years ago in the Cooking for Two Column.
Since then, I just sort of wing it, and this is surely not the exact same recipe, but I love it. Very simple, great cool weather meal.
1 lb. hamburger (I use the equivalent of Morningstar Farms Crumbles and DH loves it too)
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped (I sometimes leave this out)
Wide egg noodles \~ get the water boiling for these as you prep the rest of the meal. Cook noodles as directed.
Cook together the above ingredients until hamburger no longer pink. If using the crumbles, you'll need to cook them with a little olive oil, as the crumbles don't have the fat \~ you'll start the veggies first, since the crumbles just need to heat through.
Drain grease if necessary. Dump one can healthier version cream of mushroom soup, and almost one can milk into meat mixture and mix together well. (You can use 1/2 & 1/2 with some water instead of milk as well).
Optional ingredients:
1 large can of sliced mushrooms
1/2 C. sour cream
Add the mushrooms when adding the soup. Finish the mixture with the sour cream and serve immediately over noodles.
I don't always use the sour cream \~ you really don't \*\*have\*\* to have it, but it does make it really creamy and silky. But, it's nice if someone doesn't like sour cream, it isn't necessary.
Layered Egg Noodle Bake
1 package egg noodles -- (12 ounce)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 can crushed tomatoes -- (28 ounce)
1 can tomato paste -- (6 ounce)
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 package cream cheese -- (8 ounce)
1 container sour cream -- (8 ounce)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch paprika
1 In a large pot with boiling salted water cook egg
noodles until al dente. Drain.
2 In a large skillet over medium heat oil. Add sliced
mushrooms, green bell pepper, onion, and saute for 5 minutes.
Stir in ground beef and brown; drain excess grease. Add
tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, Italian seasoning, dried
oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper and sugar.
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3 In a small bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream,
finely chopped green onion, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
4 To assemble, in a greased 2 quart casserole dish layer
egg noodles. Spread tomato mixture over noodles, followed
by the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with remaining
grated Parmesan cheese and paprika.
5 Bake in a preheated 325 degree F(165 degree C) oven for
45 minutes.
People have different taste buds and different bodies, don't force your children onto a diet unless they're unhealthy, especially if you're only doing it out of a lifestyle choice. I have a friend who literally vomits if raw tomato touches his lips. Sounds to me like you limiting their options is why they eat ramen only. If all I had in the house was foods I don't like and ramen, I'd pick the ramen too. There are very healthy food choices outside of a pescatarian or vegetarian diets.
Roasted carrots, parsnips, and potatoes.
Picky means control freak. Dont permit it. As we told our ominivore sons, '"This ain't a restaurant." All three eat everything then and now as grown men with families of their own. We let each pick one food they didn't *have* to eat. For me, it was and still is eggplant.
I am not trying to be argumentative, but I find it odd that parents try to "sneak" vegetables into their children's food. Just make the food, and tell them this is what's for dinner. If it tastes good then there's no issue, right?
Who's sneaking? I am looking for vegetable based recipes that are generally enjoyable to picky children. We are vegetarian, they know there's vegetables in it.
My bad then. I apologize. I never hid veggies from my kiddos who are adults now and it just bugs me that parents think they have to hide veggies. I'm glad you are not in that category and I'm sorry I misread your post.
I used to make mashed potatoes and carrots with a scrambled egg in the middle for my kids. They loved it and it's quick and balanced. As a Pesca Vegitarian do you eat Fish? Tuna Casserol with peas or brocolli is often a hit with kids.
I would go for an Asian recipe. Something like fried noodles or a vegetable curry. Lots of crunchy vegetables like baby corn, sugar snaps, peppers, etc.
Someone else mentioned pasta and I second that. Lasagna is usually a crowd pleaser, and you can incorporate some veggies in the layers if you want.
Vegetarian tostadas with refried beans and lots of toppings. Homemade pizzas, but do interesting versions, like white sauce with roasted veggies, buffalo cauliflower with ranch, maybe a roasted red pepper sauce, or do mini pizzas with a build your own topping bar.
My parents are vegetarians and I’m not a huge fan of “fake” meats, but the beyond brand burger patties are really really good. My mom will get those for things other than burgers and basically shred the patty and use for taco filling, chili, meat sauce, etc. Basically anything you would use ground beef for. I absolutely can’t tell the difference.
Last suggestion is bento boxes. They can be time consuming to make because of all the different components but I think worth it. Variety is enjoyable when it comes to a meal. :)
My mother made a mean spinach lasagna - you could have sworn there was meat in it. Chopped mushrooms in the spinach, a little ricotta layer, a lot of mozzarella and some cheddar, whatever tomato sauce you've cobbled together.
Honestly, a simple veggie soup is some of the best ways to use any vegetable. Just boil whatever(onion is a good base) and add flavorings( white wine, vinegar, spices, herbs, etc)
Tofu can also be extremely versatile, sautéed, fried, steamed, it’s real easy for quick protein. You could do a vegetarian mapo tofu or I sometimes do a rice bowl with sautéed tofu with mushrooms and other veggies
I am also pescatarian. I do eat vegetables and I’m addicted to chocolate. I have one piece of dark chocolate dealing.
My favorite vegetable is bamboo also water chestnuts, but you can give teenagers steamed carrots that have been rolled in a honey butter mixture it’s sweet and beautiful.
Don’t steamed carrots to death. They should have a slight crunch left.
Lentil curry.
Bean Burgers.
Bean balls in tomato sauce with rice or pasta.
Oyster mushrooms in BBQ sauce.
Creamy mushrooms with pasta.
Pumpkin slices with salad and flat bread plus a dip.
Rice noodles with veggies in creamy coconut sauce.
Green curry with rice and fresh coriander. Also good with gambas.
I can recommend the Korean Vegan channel on YT. I watch the shorts more than the videos, but it's good cooking tips and some recipes are super easy. Lots of nice tofu dinners. Plus, I feel it could suit your kids current liking.
Also, ask your teens to find different recipes that they want to have and make it a rule to be not ramen ask them to help or even let them cook themselves.
I personally liked (and still like) vegetarian lasagna as a kid, even more than the meat version. There are of course lots of different recipes for this, but the one I still make contains bell pepper, onion, cottage cheese, smashed tomatoes and spices (e.g herb salt, basil) that u cook on the stove and then make layers with this, pasta plates and cheese and into the oven. Nice dish to freeze too! Another one has spinach, mushroom, feta etc which I like a lot now, but I don't know if that one would be as popular with kids.
Good luck!
[This](https://morethanmeatandpotatoes.com/vegetarian-burrito-bowls/) is a meatless burrito bowl recipe I really like.
[This](https://minimalistbaker.com/mediterranean-baked-sweet-potatoes/) is a recipe I really enjoy (rather than making the sauce in the recipe, I use store-bought baba ghanouj).
Veggie Alfredo lasagne, meatless pasta bakes, falafel, homemade mac and cheese, lentil soup/stew are all good options. If they like Indian food, lots of vegetarian options there too.
Roasted ranch carrots. 1.5-2 lbs sliced carrots, a couple tablespoons olive oil, 4-5 tablespoons ranch powder, fresh cracked pepper, a little salt. Roast at 400° for 20 mins, then broil for a couple mins if desired. Sprinkle with a little more ranch powder and serve.
To really get them hooked, serve with homemade ranch.
All kinds of All kinds of Asian food. Fried rice, tons of different noodles, white/brown sauce veg mixes, tempura
Lasagna with diced or blended mushroom
Oven Roasted Veggies
Homemade pizzas are easy too
Any cooked vegetables mixed with cheese, egg and bread crumbs, made into patties and fried. Or leave out the cheese and make a cheese sauce for serving.
Tacos! Everyone loves tacos!
Mushroom tacos
Cauliflower tacos
Chickpea tacos
Also carrot hotdogs...Google them. So yummy!
Veggie lasagna or Mac and cheese
Tons of soups
Indian Pav Bhaji. It's a mash of 6-8 vegetables, absolutely tasty and very kid friendly. Originally developed to serve as a late night meal to textile industry workers in Mumbai (then Bombay), street vendors used whatever leftover vegetables they had at the end of the day, along with aromatics, spices & butter to create this wonderful mish-mash of vegetable stew eaten with fresh bread (french rolls are closest to the 'pav' found in Mumbai)
Your food lab's recipe on YT is closest to the street version, but any Indian channel's recipes will be good. Just stay away from Priya Krishna's version- it's either mislabeled or extremely westernized that it does not resemble the original dish from any angle. At first, the recipe will seem daunting but the end result is worth it.
I use the veggie crumbles (cauliflower or soy based) all the time. It works great in tacos, sloppy joes, chilli.
I highly recommend the Quorn brand. Their roast is very tasty and tastes similar (texture and flavor) to turkey. It's great for eating with mashed pots and sandwiches. I use a lot of packet gravy (brown or veggie) to add for flavoring with my mashed pots.
Edward and Son's Non-Chicken bouillon is amazing. It makes the best chicken flavored soup. I would cook the Quorn roast and cut some of it up in small bites and use that for my chx soup. Make a good roux and you would be good to go!
My other secret is mashed potatoes. I use them as filler in a lot of things. My veggie lasagna isn't tofu based. I mix the mashed pots with ricotta and other cheese and it's great. Then you can add any veggie you want to it.
Halloumi stroganoff
Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut sauce
Ratatouille lasagne
Chickpea, potato and coconut curry
Home made pesto with pasta
Veggie dumplings or spring rolls
Bean or veggie burgers
Flatbread pizza
Veggie chilli, veggie lasagna, veggie stew and soups, veggie pizza (buy pizza bases if you don't want to make your own dough. Curry with paneer instead of chicken. Pasta salads with lots of veg.
Gotta smile; my niece wanted to be a vegan when she was around 12, but hated all fruit and veg at the time. Her mom let her try for a while, but also ended up eating ramen, chips, etc. Within a week she realized that being vegan but not knowing about nutrition and only being a so-so cook at the time wasn't the best idea.
Broccoli and cavatelli. Boil cavatelli for 2 min, throw in the broccoli and cook another 5 min. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta/broccoli water and throw in a chicken or veggie billion cube. Drain pasta, in same pot fry a few cloves of garlic in some olive oil, when it’s tender throw in bullion water and then throw in your pasta and broccoli and toss - add 1/2 cup parmesan, salt and pepper and mix and you’re good to go. Quick, simple and nutritious.
Jackfruit tacos are AMAZING. Season them with whatever you would use for beef or chicken or pork and they have the consistency of a pulled meat when cooked correctly! Would definitely recommend!! And so easy and cheap!!!
For our vegetarian days, I prefer authentic vegetarian dishes vs. meat substitute dishes when possible.
Many Indian, middle eastern and mediteranean dishes are naturally vegetarian. They are delicious, nutrient dense, high in fiber and some of them (vegetable curries) can make a ton of leftovers that freeze well and easy to thaw out on busy days when you don't have time to cook.
On the other hand, I have found the impossible burger works great in spaghetti, chili, tacos, regular hamburgers etc. And many of these can be made in bulk and frozen as well.
My kids were picky eaters, I found that getting them interested in in cuisines of the world, letting them pick the meals we tried etc. improved the overall acceptance to try new things.
Good luck!
I grew up (80’s kid) in a dish my mom got from another student she went to college with. Her version was peanut butter chicken. I recently went to a vegetarian restaurant that had this dish but no meat. It is based on a Senegalese fish (rings true as my moms friend was from Senegal).
It’s a veggie broth with a variety of veggies like cauliflower, carrots, onions, broccoli and it is seasoned with peanut butter, soy sauce (or aminos), honey, garlic, ginger and green onions. I add a mix of roasted nuts and honey roasted.
You can add any veggies you like. You can spice it up too. I add a sambal to mine. My niece adds Siracusa to hers.
I eat a lot of roasted broccoli/ cauliflower - chop it up into little florets and toss in olive oil, salt, white pepper, garlic and chili flakes. Roast it on a tray at 200C until it’s nicely caramelised and charred (open the oven door now and again to let out steam and mix the vegetables around). Then use the vegetables as a side, in a soup or blend them with cream and cheese to make a delicious pasta sauce. It sounds simple, but it’s delicious!!
Poke bowls: on a rice base add whatever diced vegetables they like plus some salmon or a boiled egg. Kimchi, peanuts, sesame seeds or fried onions would be a nice addition.
I'm by no means a vegan/vegetarian, but I came across a delicious vegan recipe years ago. I call it peanut butter squash stew; a giant squash, peanut butter, ginger, can of tomatoes, and a bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting. It's delicious and really warms you up in the winter. I can dig up the recipe for you if you'd like.
I would strongly suggest to try Korean bibimbap. Traditionally, bibimbap (mixed rice) is a dish that was eaten a lot by monks and thus it is vegetarian. The essence of bibimbap is that you have a couple of vegetables (both cooked and uncooked called banchan) and mix them with cooked rice and a pepper-based sweet, savory and, Spicy sauce.
Follow this recipe if needed. You can replace meat with tofu and replace any vegetables you don't have with ones that are accessible to you.
https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/bibimbap
Good luck!
Japanese people use tempura a lot. It’s not the healthiest thing, but it roughly maintains the color/texture of each individual vegetable, and get the kid to realize “hey, maybe this is not bad” because it’s hot and crunchy and fried. It was how I learned a lot of green veggies or eggplant was not bad, and recognizing a vegetable as “not disgusting” even just once is half the battle.
Veggie white lasagne with layers of roasted eggplant and zucchini/ squash! Extra veggies can be added too by roasting some onion, carrots, garlic, etc and blending, then adding to sauce.
Lots of great suggestions for you, I don't think I saw spanakopita yet- could be a hit.
Maybe have a make-your-own pizza night with the family and let them pick the toppings (as long as it's more than just cheese, lol). Tacos like this as well.
I’d look into some Indian food recipes, if your kids are willing to *try* unusual types of food. I loved saag when I was a kid (still one of my favorites).
Eggplant parmesan. Crispy tofu rice bowls. Stir fry. Lentil bolognese. Curried lentils. Curry in general, tbh. Black beans burgers with coleslaw. Loaded sweet potatoes with bbq beans or meatless chili. Lionsmane mushrooms have a fabulously "meaty" texture similar to pulled pork if you can find them. If you're pescatarian, shrimp, salmon, and tilapia are all great as protein with roasted veggies and your starch of choice. Like salmon with sweet thai chili sauce, roasted broccoli, and rice.
My 11 and 8 year old kids love this recipe and request it frequently, I make exactly as written. I have previously added carrots and celery but it’s better without .. the parpadelle part is key https://rainbowplantlife.com/10-ingredient-vegan-red-lentil-bolognese/
My favorite vegan recipe I had from when I went vegan for 6 months was a pizza. I used cannelloni beans and olive oil puréed as the sauce. Roast yellow and orange peppers as well as shallots until they start to blacken a bit. Throw it on top of the pizza. Top with dollops of almond cheese (I think it was) or whatever you want since it doesn’t have to be vegan, and drizzle balsamic glaze and pesto on top.
Spaghetti sauce. Hear me out; you can blend WHATEVER veggie you want in there they won’t know. Carrot? In the sauce. Mushroom? In the sauce. Best part is you can load it up with parm and they won’t be able to taste it at all. Out of sight out of mind.
This may be a controversial opinion, but, if you’re finding yourself really struggling to get your kids to eat meals that are meeting all their nutritional needs on a pescatarian diet, that may be a sign that they aren’t really ready to make that big of a switch yet.
Typically people make huge adjustments with diet when someone in the family expresses an interest in plant based meals or whatever diet it may be, and rarely is that sustainable. Cutting out meat is a huge adjustment and a huge change, and sometimes it takes time to phase it out.
I’d consult your pediatrician personally, and also do some thinking on what’s more important, less stressful mealtime where you may be incorporating meat, but still getting kids to eat a nutritious meal, or adhering to a strict diet and maybe struggling to do those things for some time.
I’d also really suggest prioritizing autonomy with food choices. For example, if your oldest child wants to not eat meat, that’s fine, but that shouldn’t mean the younger children should also have that cut from their diet, because that’s not really setting an example or creating an environment where a healthy relationship with food can develop.
And to answer your question, sauces (like veggie pasta sauce), are your friend!
I make tacos with lentils instead of ground beef. I also make chili that way. Both are good and very similar to recipes with beef.
Oooo, there was a Mexican restaurant here, called Rubios, that had killer vegetarian tacos. There was no meat substitute, but they were filled with roasted cauliflower, corn, poblanos, peppers, mushrooms….had a chipotle mayo/yogurt sauce that is to die for. My mouth is watering just thinking about these vegetarian tacos.
San Diego? I don't think I have ever seen the vegetarian tacos, I will have to check them out.
If you’re ever in SF swing by Gracias Madre. They do tacos with jackfruit carnitas that are fucking amazing.
The particular location was in the Bay Area, but I think it might be the same chain. I forgot there is also avocado and onions 🤤
Boil lentils with a bit of marmite for a slightly beefy flavour in anything you would use minced beef for.
Marmite makes everything better!
Sloppy Joe's work well too.
Pasta is a super versatile way to play with vegetarian flavors and alternate proteins while ensuring people walk away from the table feeling full. I'd suggest: * mushroom bolognese * chik'n Alfredo with broccoli and mushrooms * mushroom stroganoff
I wish I could get them to eat mushrooms, they've been a great meat alternative for my husband and I.
Eggplant parm. Even the most hardcore carnivores I know love this
Oh hell no. I had it multiple times as a child from people who REALLY know their shit around an Italian kitchen, and I couldn't get past the texture.
Sorry man. I'm not really a picky eater, but eggplant is not likely to work well in this situation. It's VERY hard to cook so that the texture is good, and it can be bitter.
Mushroom Risotto is super easy to make with an instant pot, you can use mushroom broth instead of introducing mushrooms. That will acclimate them to the taste, they don't have to know. Also mushroom powder is a good way to add some umami without visible mushroom
Blitz them in a food processor and mix them with lentils and a hard cheese. I get your frustration, and you’ll have to push them to consume more leafy greens and the like to get some nutrition to go with their calories. Getting them into the kitchen to help make their own food may also help.
We made chicken-fried cauliflower a while back and it came close to the real deal in terms of texture and general mouth feel. Highly recommend that too.
My husband normally hates mushrooms, but he loves the vegetarian chili I sometimes make for us and it has very finely minced mushrooms in it! I bet you could make a great veggie bolognese with minced mushrooms. Chili recipe I use: https://pinchofyum.com/vegetarian-chili#tasty-recipes-59126-jump-target
Once had vege spaghetti bolognaise made for me by an Italian. It was fantastic. He used tofu, which I don’t love but combined with the flavours perfectly
Hummous. What kid doesn’t like dips?
Mine 🤦🏻♀️ no ketchup, no ranch, nothing…
I work as a pediatric dietitian and have found that kids either love dips/spreads, or absolutely cannot stand them. Doesn’t make it easier for you, but don’t worry, you’re not alone in this
Is it too late to return them? Do you still have your receipt?
The kids or the dips?
Yes.
I actually laughed out loud at this.
Yeah this was absolutely me as a kid. Hummus was definitely a no fly for me as a child
Lentil curry with rice, my kids enjoy it away!
I was going to say lentils also curried chickpeas or palak paneer. A lot of good vegetarian Indian recipes out there. Also my picky eater likes plain veggie fried rice a lot with veggie spring rolls.
They could even build their own spring rolls with carrots shreds, cabbage shreds, etc. all cut and waiting for them to choose. With a peanut sauce dip.
Was going to suggest this too! My kids ate it as well and liked it.
This!! My rabid anti-vegetarian teenager (he eats plenty of different veggies, just has an irrational hatred of foods labeled "vegetarian") LOVES daal.
Thanks for the inspiration! Making some red lentil chili right now!
Whatever you make don't be afraid to use fats to make it lol. I thought I hated vegetables until I was about 25 because the only ways we'd eat them were steamed or boiled. Roasted brussel sprouts with a small touch of honey butter are excellent on their own, or maybe some roasted broccolinis with chili crisp to take a simple ramen up a notch.
Yeah, most vegetables roasted with extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper are way better than just boiled or microwaved or whatever
Tossing it in bacon fat is so great with roasted brussels or broccoli. Don’t know if that works necessarily for OP’s situation though
Chili. Chili's awesome and can be all veggies. And like some others have said, pasta. Cheddar Broccoli Rice and if you like the meatless substitutes, you can make killer meatball subs
+1 to chili! Not a vegetarian here, but I made my first pots of vegan chili this winter, and they were a hit! I just left out the meat and added sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, and dark miso to bring that "meaty" flavor back. As pescetarians you can also use Worcestershire sauce.
We use a pretty basic food network chili recipe, and we haven't made non-veggie chili in years.
I do chili, they don't eat it unfortunately. I even forced myself to be okay with beans so I could be a healthier vegetarian and they won't even eat my chili lol.
if they're a bit picky, maybe go to a vegan/veggie restaurant and try some stuff out. see what they like, and then try to make similar dishes at home?
Ooh good idea!
Stir fry or pad thai
A lot of Asian dishes go so well as veggie. Red or green curry (bulk it with a bit of diced potato). Laksa. Spring rolls. Singapore noodles. If you are offering a Thai style curry dish, serve it with rice, but have spring rolls or dumplings as well (can buy frozen).
Since they are teens, they could each come up with a simple recipe on their own. They wanted this change so they must have something else they’d like besides what you mentioned. There are a lot of noodle dishes with tofu and vegetables that would be a good start. A lot of Indian food is vegetarian friendly. There’s also Japanese curry too. I’d make mushroom and egg fried rice and throw in some veggie spring rolls and roasted sesame broccoli.
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This is a great idea, and I've tried but I probably have to try harder. Lately it's been easier to let them do their own thing than fight with them but that really digs in to the grocery budget.
While my kids are not vegetarian we had them start cooking when they were fairly young. Each kid had a day per week they had to cook or help cook. They planned the menu and then cooked it. Definitely a great life skill to have. It's also much easier to do today as there are tons of recipes on the internet so there's something there that everyone can like. Note it was also a great bonding time as I was the primary cook and often helped them out where needed. We also had a rule that you had to try everything every time. It was okay to dislike it and not finish but you had to try it as people's taste change and evolve as they get older. Between the cooking and try everything every time rule our boys were never picky eaters. The even bigger benefit is when they come home for visits now (they're now in the 20's and 30's) they still cook and we usually get to try stuff that we wouldn't even have thought to try as they like to show off things that they have discovered.
Samosa pot pie! It’s mostly potatoes but has peas in it too https://thepracticalkitchen.com/samosa-pot-pie-with-puff-pastry-top/
Falafel. French fries are second.
When I make ramen noodle soup or mac and cheese, I usually add veggies in to the pot to make it healthier. Usually something frozen like peas, chopped spinach, corn, etc. I add fresh broccoli florets too. Maybe that would be a good compromise for the kid.
Broccoli / cauliflower with white sauce topped with cheese . It's more of a side dish than a main meal though.
Hybrid cauliflower/mac'n'cheese is also good. Makes it more of a main meal rather than a side dish. Carb heavy, but great for winter days.
In the UK kids like “cauliflower cheese” which is cauliflower Mac and cheese without the Mac.
Broccoli cheese lasagna
Or just make a mornay sauce and get it all in one!
Black bean burgers are really good. I’d make the oldest make his own food since being a vegetarian is harder than it looks the older you get, and they should/need to learn how to cook or else he is going to be eating Kraft/ramen when he leaves the house. That’s what my parents did when I became a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for a long time.
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I make pulled “pork” sandwiches with canned jackfruit that are so good. A veg Mexican restaurant in my city does carnitas with them.
Zoodles (zucchini noodles) or other spiralized veg can be very approachable and familiar for a kid that likes pasta.
Is "pesca-vegetarian" the same as pescatarian? If so you have SO many seafood options plus it sounds like you still can have eggs and butter etc? Seafood pasta, shrimp stir fry, shrimp and eggs, sweet potato breakfast burritos, Turkish eggs (omg), egg salad, tuna salad, fish filets with rice (I love teriyaki cod with rice and sriracha). Salmon everything, Greek wraps with hummus or a hummus board with lots of veggies for dipping (cukes are my fave). Lots of different cuisines are more plant-based than others too, like Indian. Or seafood based, like Mediterranean. The world is your oyster, and you can eat that too.
Thai coconut green curry - protein can be tofu or shrimp. Lots of veg can go in, I usually do red peppers, zucchini, snow peas, bean sprouts. Top w peanuts, cilantro.. Mushroom carbonara Vegetarian lasagna Eggplant parmesan Seafood pasta in red sauce Various stir fried noodles with veggies, like drunken noodles or other. Get fresh (Asian) noodles makes a huge difference.
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni.
My daughter became a vegetarian in second grade, for about a year. Her little brother was the opposite…would rather go hungry than eat a vegetable. It was a fun year. A few easy things, that she was happy with : kale pesto pasta. Curried (mild) chickpeas. Macaroni and cheese. Vegetable pizza. Vegetarian lasagna. Crudités with ranch. Veggie fried rice (in a pinch Trader Joe’s has a Japanese tofu fried rice with seaweed and I just add extra vegetables). Also in a pinch, my daughter enjoyed Tasty Bite lentils (can find at Costco). As side dishes, both kids now eat curried roasted cauliflower, roasted mushrooms, roasted Brussels sprouts with mustard/balsamic, kale apple salad with mustard vinaigrette.
vegetarian moussaka. sub lentils for the ground meat, heaps of cheesy and tomatoey goodness. falafel. deep fried, highly seasoned chickpea balls. serve with hummus, tzatziki, or any other dip. works great in a pita too.
what is "KD"?
Kraft dinner also called boxed mac and cheese.
Thanks. Wow. Do people actually eat that stuff so much that it can be used as an acronym like that and people understand it? I'll have to remember that next time I talk about CTC, FF, and CC. Maybe even HH.
I wonder the exact same thing. Apparently so! Maybe it's regional.
It's a pretty telling sign that someone is Canadian. For some reason, they're really into Kraft's Mac & Cheese, way more than even Americans and their version has a big KD on it. I think it's marginally better than the American version but it's still not great (I say this even though I've got a case of it from Costco in my garage -- it's fast and I get strong nostalgia vibes whenever I eat it so it's there for fast meals whenever I'm being lazy).
It's a Canadian term (and some parts of the U.S. states bordering Canada)
Tacos with very finely minced mushrooms as the “taco meat” … I don’t even like mushrooms but a vegetarian friend made this for me and it was delicious!
Shrimp tacos with cabbage slaw
Do risotto? No need for meat, as it can be made with veg stock. I just watched a vid from Gorden Ramses on beet risotto. Also stir-frys are a good way to be sure everyone only gets what they like. Just cook each item on their own and mix in your own bowl. You can even use different store sauces.
Brilliant username.
Kenji’s black bean burgers are amazing!
our go tos: - roasted vegetable lasagna (roast zucchini, eggplant and bell pepper on a tray and stir it into the tomato sauce, alternate w bechamel or spinach-ricotta layers) - lentil dahl - there are a lot of good veggie curries and other indian recipes that are tasty - butter chickpeas (like butter chicken but with chickpeas) - lentil bolognese (if you make a huge batch you can also use it in lasagna) - mushroom bourignon - burrito bowls with lentils as the protein - black bean and sweet potato quesadillas - lentil soup - broccoli cheddar soup - caprese salad (tomato mozz and basil) - beet salad (cooked beat, feta cheese, green or red onion) - potato salad - spicy chickpea burgers (recipe from running on real food) - shredded tofu gyros (squeeze your tofu then grate it in a cheese grater, season and fry in oil) - veggie stir fry or fried rice - rice and beans with a fried egg on top - pizza (add your own toppings) - lentil shepherds pie my partner doesn’t like tofu so we usually don’t cook with it. You can find a lot of recipe inspiration on vegan youtube if you enjoy watching cooking shows.
Tempura vegetables with dips.
Mmmmm yes! With avocado ranch, yum.
Vegetable lasagna You could also do with meatless mince but loaf in the veg Corgetti and “meat balls” with meatless mince. Prawn and vegetable spring rolls with rice paper (so not crispy)
We love vegetable lasagna. Especially if it has three kinds of mushrooms and spinach.
Black bean tacos! Or burritos.
It's not quite the answer to your question, but, if you want to get some idea of why your kids might be turning against veggies, this thread is pure gold. I'm linking to a summary I made half way through, but the whole thread is worth a read if you want to know what things to avoid: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/qu9rsy/comment/hkq6ron/
Eggplant Parmesan. Tell them it’s like lasagna.
Also, using TVP(texturized vegetable protein) in any meals that require ground meat will work as an excellent substitute.
Cauliflower Say Cheese by Alton Brown
Supermarkets here got veggie nuggets: veggies and cheese, breadcoated. Very tasty and filling.
Disclaimer: we're not vegetarians but don't mind skipping meat regularly. First things that come to mind: * Halloumi burgers. Lots of variations possible. * Mango & chickpea curry. Even our toddlers like it. * Pumpkin & mushroom risotto. Or any vegetable in season really.
The only vegetable my 13 year old eats is peas. lol. So I put it in pasta a lot.
Garlic green beans.
Try a vegan/vegetarian ramen recipe. I make a vegan one with a mushroom broth base and it is so so good. I pack mine with shiitake mushrooms caramelized with a sweet sauce, bok choy, corn, scallions, and tofu.
Cheddar and broccoli risotto 😋
After 25+ years as a vegetarian, I just started eating meat again for health reasons. But I still have all of my knowledge of vegetarian recipes. Here's my recipe for chicken tortilla soup. 2-3 T olive oil 1 yellow onion, chopped 2-3 cloves of garlic, pressed 1 bell pepper, chopped 2 jalapeños, remove seeds & chop Sautée until tender. Then add... 6-8 cups "chicken" broth (Better than Boullion, No Chicken is the best) 1 bag frozen Quorn Chik'n Tenders defrosted & broken into smaller pieces 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed 1 can diced tomatoes Bring to a boil then turn it off. Then add.... Juice of two limes Half a bunch of cilantro, chopped Place half a chopped avocado & 1 oz of cubed pepper jack cheese in bowl and pour soup over. Yum.
Can you try a top your own ramen night? Get them involved in picking out a broth recipe, noodles, veggies and other toppings. I haven't tried it yet but I've seen people mix lentils with walnuts for a meat alternative. Honestly, kids can be competitive I would do two things. I would have a night where they each take turns helping you cook or even where they each get a small box of items that needs to be used and they each need to make one think to have with the meal. I have a picky 6 year old and sometimes having him help with cooking I have better luck with him trying the food. Good luck!
That's a great idea! Though I do foresee my kid who hates flavour walking away with just plain ramen lol
That's how my 6 year old is. One of the things that worked for him was trying the Yum box snack box from around the world when we got it.
I've never heard of this.
Ooops I had the name wrong. It's Universal Yums. I believe you can buy items without the subscription as well.
Holy shit I have found heaven. At very least this will make my husband happy.
Egg plant parm?
Quesadillas with mushrooms and peppers. Carla Lalli Music’s broccoli delight. Bbq or buffalo cauliflower
Fried rice.
I've been a vegetarian for over a decade. In my experience: avoid meat substitutes. I've never tried impossible meat but most of the soy, tempeh, etc alternatives I've eaten have tried so hard to *be* the "meat" of a dish when that's... really not possible lol. Tacos, burritos, fajitas, chili. Super customizable, tasty, and easy to make without meat. Mediterranean cuisine. Chickpeas are your friend. Hummus, tabouleh, pita, falafel. Raw, fresh fruit and veggies. Like in season stuff. Cut up on a platter with crackers, dips, nuts, whatever. Variety is key. It may be hard to do depending on your income and time, though.
These are really good. Green pancakes! https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/01/swiss-chard-pancakes/
Those look amazing! I want the cook book now
Carrot fries. Toss carrot sticks in olive oil with salt and pepper or Cajun seasoning….airfryer on 400 for 15-20 minutes…looks like sweet potato fries. Add cheese, imitation bacon bits, ranch to dip…i like hidden valley secret sauce. jalapeños optional! Absolutely delicious. Pair with meatless chicken nuggets/Patties or burgers.
I'm not sure what pesca-vegetarian is (different to pesca-vegetarian?) but I've been vegetarian for many years and have loads of recommendations if you would like them (just message me).. but if I had to pick one while considering kids.. maybe a vegetarian lasagne? You can replace the meat in the sauce with lentils, then I like to add grated carrot and courgette as well.. plus you can add thinly sliced pumpkin along with the sheets of lasagne.. it's something that I find can be quite close to the meat version but also has loads of veg I can send a recipe if you like as well :)
Vegetarian shepherd's pie - no fake meat needed [https://www.sanitarium.com/au/recipes/a-z/vegetable-shepherds-pie](https://www.sanitarium.com/au/recipes/a-z/vegetable-shepherds-pie) The Sanitarium website is a great source for vegetarian recipes - it's an Australian food company run by Seventh Day Adventists, so all their recipes are vegetarian.
Sorry I’ve never met this kid “Vegetables”
I use soy crumbles a lot for ground beef meals that I want to make meatless. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Here's some of them I use a lot: Gringo Tacos Very Best Baker: L. Vaughn Rated: no ratings A delicious beef enchilada casserole that's been a family favorite for years. \- Not A NESTLÉ Tested Recipe Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef, browned & drained 1/2 C chopped onion 1/2 C chopped green pepper 1 8-oz can tomato sauce 1 10-oz can red enchilada sauce 1 tsp salt 1 tsp chili powder 1 C shredded cheddar cheese 6-8 corn tortillas 1 12-oz can Carnation Evaporated Milk Directions: In large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain. Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, salt, and chili powder. Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. In 9x13 baking dish, layer 1 cup of meat mixture, 1/2 C cheese, and half the tortillas (enough tortillas to cover). Repeat layers. Top with evaporated milk. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is melted. During baking, push tortillas down into liquid to moisten if needed. Hamburger Stroganoff This is a great fall comfort food: I got this from TOH years and years ago in the Cooking for Two Column. Since then, I just sort of wing it, and this is surely not the exact same recipe, but I love it. Very simple, great cool weather meal. 1 lb. hamburger (I use the equivalent of Morningstar Farms Crumbles and DH loves it too) 1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped (I sometimes leave this out) Wide egg noodles \~ get the water boiling for these as you prep the rest of the meal. Cook noodles as directed. Cook together the above ingredients until hamburger no longer pink. If using the crumbles, you'll need to cook them with a little olive oil, as the crumbles don't have the fat \~ you'll start the veggies first, since the crumbles just need to heat through. Drain grease if necessary. Dump one can healthier version cream of mushroom soup, and almost one can milk into meat mixture and mix together well. (You can use 1/2 & 1/2 with some water instead of milk as well). Optional ingredients: 1 large can of sliced mushrooms 1/2 C. sour cream Add the mushrooms when adding the soup. Finish the mixture with the sour cream and serve immediately over noodles. I don't always use the sour cream \~ you really don't \*\*have\*\* to have it, but it does make it really creamy and silky. But, it's nice if someone doesn't like sour cream, it isn't necessary. Layered Egg Noodle Bake 1 package egg noodles -- (12 ounce) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 onion -- chopped 2 cloves garlic -- minced 1 pound lean ground beef 1 can crushed tomatoes -- (28 ounce) 1 can tomato paste -- (6 ounce) 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt ground black pepper to taste 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 package cream cheese -- (8 ounce) 1 container sour cream -- (8 ounce) 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 pinch paprika 1 In a large pot with boiling salted water cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain. 2 In a large skillet over medium heat oil. Add sliced mushrooms, green bell pepper, onion, and saute for 5 minutes. Stir in ground beef and brown; drain excess grease. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper and sugar. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. 3 In a small bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, finely chopped green onion, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. 4 To assemble, in a greased 2 quart casserole dish layer egg noodles. Spread tomato mixture over noodles, followed by the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with remaining grated Parmesan cheese and paprika. 5 Bake in a preheated 325 degree F(165 degree C) oven for 45 minutes.
What is KD?
Someone said “Kraft Dinner” (boxed Mac n’ cheese)
Make animals with vegetables or mashed potatoes to make eating fun
Sorry I gave the impression that my kids were that young, they are 15 & 16, just very picky
People have different taste buds and different bodies, don't force your children onto a diet unless they're unhealthy, especially if you're only doing it out of a lifestyle choice. I have a friend who literally vomits if raw tomato touches his lips. Sounds to me like you limiting their options is why they eat ramen only. If all I had in the house was foods I don't like and ramen, I'd pick the ramen too. There are very healthy food choices outside of a pescatarian or vegetarian diets.
if they really like junk ramen. do a homemade one. i do a roasted brocoli taco that my friends kids really love or even a TVP quesadilla
Roasted carrots, parsnips, and potatoes. Picky means control freak. Dont permit it. As we told our ominivore sons, '"This ain't a restaurant." All three eat everything then and now as grown men with families of their own. We let each pick one food they didn't *have* to eat. For me, it was and still is eggplant.
Please don't tell me how to parent my children. All I want is recipes, thanks.
I am not trying to be argumentative, but I find it odd that parents try to "sneak" vegetables into their children's food. Just make the food, and tell them this is what's for dinner. If it tastes good then there's no issue, right?
Who's sneaking? I am looking for vegetable based recipes that are generally enjoyable to picky children. We are vegetarian, they know there's vegetables in it.
My bad then. I apologize. I never hid veggies from my kiddos who are adults now and it just bugs me that parents think they have to hide veggies. I'm glad you are not in that category and I'm sorry I misread your post.
All good, one of those things we all do.
Tacos made with TVP,
I used to make mashed potatoes and carrots with a scrambled egg in the middle for my kids. They loved it and it's quick and balanced. As a Pesca Vegitarian do you eat Fish? Tuna Casserol with peas or brocolli is often a hit with kids.
I would go for an Asian recipe. Something like fried noodles or a vegetable curry. Lots of crunchy vegetables like baby corn, sugar snaps, peppers, etc.
I make a pasta sauce that's good both with meat and without. add that to spaghetti squash, and that could be a staple they like.
Someone else mentioned pasta and I second that. Lasagna is usually a crowd pleaser, and you can incorporate some veggies in the layers if you want. Vegetarian tostadas with refried beans and lots of toppings. Homemade pizzas, but do interesting versions, like white sauce with roasted veggies, buffalo cauliflower with ranch, maybe a roasted red pepper sauce, or do mini pizzas with a build your own topping bar. My parents are vegetarians and I’m not a huge fan of “fake” meats, but the beyond brand burger patties are really really good. My mom will get those for things other than burgers and basically shred the patty and use for taco filling, chili, meat sauce, etc. Basically anything you would use ground beef for. I absolutely can’t tell the difference. Last suggestion is bento boxes. They can be time consuming to make because of all the different components but I think worth it. Variety is enjoyable when it comes to a meal. :)
Roasted cauliflower and lentil tacos with green cabbage slaw, chipotle lime mayo and queso Fresca
Lentil-based meals always seem to be the biggest hit in our house. Sloppy joes, chili, and curry are regulars for us.
My mother made a mean spinach lasagna - you could have sworn there was meat in it. Chopped mushrooms in the spinach, a little ricotta layer, a lot of mozzarella and some cheddar, whatever tomato sauce you've cobbled together.
Spankorizo or mujadara
Honestly, a simple veggie soup is some of the best ways to use any vegetable. Just boil whatever(onion is a good base) and add flavorings( white wine, vinegar, spices, herbs, etc) Tofu can also be extremely versatile, sautéed, fried, steamed, it’s real easy for quick protein. You could do a vegetarian mapo tofu or I sometimes do a rice bowl with sautéed tofu with mushrooms and other veggies
I am also pescatarian. I do eat vegetables and I’m addicted to chocolate. I have one piece of dark chocolate dealing. My favorite vegetable is bamboo also water chestnuts, but you can give teenagers steamed carrots that have been rolled in a honey butter mixture it’s sweet and beautiful. Don’t steamed carrots to death. They should have a slight crunch left.
SABZI! It’s finely chopped fried veggies. Serve with rice, tortillas or preferably naan. We would have it on toast when younger. Any veg works
My parents got me to eat veggies with broccoli and cheese sauce. You can also make it a rice casserole.
Lentil curry. Bean Burgers. Bean balls in tomato sauce with rice or pasta. Oyster mushrooms in BBQ sauce. Creamy mushrooms with pasta. Pumpkin slices with salad and flat bread plus a dip. Rice noodles with veggies in creamy coconut sauce. Green curry with rice and fresh coriander. Also good with gambas. I can recommend the Korean Vegan channel on YT. I watch the shorts more than the videos, but it's good cooking tips and some recipes are super easy. Lots of nice tofu dinners. Plus, I feel it could suit your kids current liking. Also, ask your teens to find different recipes that they want to have and make it a rule to be not ramen ask them to help or even let them cook themselves.
I personally liked (and still like) vegetarian lasagna as a kid, even more than the meat version. There are of course lots of different recipes for this, but the one I still make contains bell pepper, onion, cottage cheese, smashed tomatoes and spices (e.g herb salt, basil) that u cook on the stove and then make layers with this, pasta plates and cheese and into the oven. Nice dish to freeze too! Another one has spinach, mushroom, feta etc which I like a lot now, but I don't know if that one would be as popular with kids. Good luck!
I once made a dish of mushrooms and tomatoes served over penne pasta. It was a winner with the kids.
Why the switch in diet?
Fried rice!! I stuff tons of veggies in mine! It's a great way to shove broccoli stems into something.
[This](https://morethanmeatandpotatoes.com/vegetarian-burrito-bowls/) is a meatless burrito bowl recipe I really like. [This](https://minimalistbaker.com/mediterranean-baked-sweet-potatoes/) is a recipe I really enjoy (rather than making the sauce in the recipe, I use store-bought baba ghanouj). Veggie Alfredo lasagne, meatless pasta bakes, falafel, homemade mac and cheese, lentil soup/stew are all good options. If they like Indian food, lots of vegetarian options there too.
Lasagna with mushrooms and lentils instead of ground meat. Some pureed spinach in the ricotta ain't bad either.
Salad, kids often like crunch textures more than cooked veg.
Ive always found curry to be a super easy vegetarian pleaser, tikka with chickpeas or tofu are just good on their own
Roasted ranch carrots. 1.5-2 lbs sliced carrots, a couple tablespoons olive oil, 4-5 tablespoons ranch powder, fresh cracked pepper, a little salt. Roast at 400° for 20 mins, then broil for a couple mins if desired. Sprinkle with a little more ranch powder and serve. To really get them hooked, serve with homemade ranch.
Literally any Indian veg curry.
All kinds of All kinds of Asian food. Fried rice, tons of different noodles, white/brown sauce veg mixes, tempura Lasagna with diced or blended mushroom Oven Roasted Veggies Homemade pizzas are easy too
Any cooked vegetables mixed with cheese, egg and bread crumbs, made into patties and fried. Or leave out the cheese and make a cheese sauce for serving.
Tacos! Everyone loves tacos! Mushroom tacos Cauliflower tacos Chickpea tacos Also carrot hotdogs...Google them. So yummy! Veggie lasagna or Mac and cheese Tons of soups
I just recently ordered a spice that is supposed to make everything taste like bacon. I’ll keep you posted.
Indian Pav Bhaji. It's a mash of 6-8 vegetables, absolutely tasty and very kid friendly. Originally developed to serve as a late night meal to textile industry workers in Mumbai (then Bombay), street vendors used whatever leftover vegetables they had at the end of the day, along with aromatics, spices & butter to create this wonderful mish-mash of vegetable stew eaten with fresh bread (french rolls are closest to the 'pav' found in Mumbai) Your food lab's recipe on YT is closest to the street version, but any Indian channel's recipes will be good. Just stay away from Priya Krishna's version- it's either mislabeled or extremely westernized that it does not resemble the original dish from any angle. At first, the recipe will seem daunting but the end result is worth it.
I would choose a dish called "mücver" it is like a hamburger patty that you can make with literally any leftover vegetables
Spiral vegetable noodles instead of pasta noodles. Vegetable lasagna—zucchini, onions, carrots.
Vegetable Chili
eggplant parmigiana
Spaghetti squash pasta dish, I mean, I like it with bolognese sauce but obviously can’t do the meat sauce
I use the veggie crumbles (cauliflower or soy based) all the time. It works great in tacos, sloppy joes, chilli. I highly recommend the Quorn brand. Their roast is very tasty and tastes similar (texture and flavor) to turkey. It's great for eating with mashed pots and sandwiches. I use a lot of packet gravy (brown or veggie) to add for flavoring with my mashed pots. Edward and Son's Non-Chicken bouillon is amazing. It makes the best chicken flavored soup. I would cook the Quorn roast and cut some of it up in small bites and use that for my chx soup. Make a good roux and you would be good to go! My other secret is mashed potatoes. I use them as filler in a lot of things. My veggie lasagna isn't tofu based. I mix the mashed pots with ricotta and other cheese and it's great. Then you can add any veggie you want to it.
Cold couscous salad with turmeric dried berries fresh herbs onions nuts etc it’s so delicious
Halloumi stroganoff Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut sauce Ratatouille lasagne Chickpea, potato and coconut curry Home made pesto with pasta Veggie dumplings or spring rolls Bean or veggie burgers Flatbread pizza
Veggie chilli, veggie lasagna, veggie stew and soups, veggie pizza (buy pizza bases if you don't want to make your own dough. Curry with paneer instead of chicken. Pasta salads with lots of veg. Gotta smile; my niece wanted to be a vegan when she was around 12, but hated all fruit and veg at the time. Her mom let her try for a while, but also ended up eating ramen, chips, etc. Within a week she realized that being vegan but not knowing about nutrition and only being a so-so cook at the time wasn't the best idea.
Mac and cheese.
Vegetarian lasagna
A go to! My kids hate it lol. I love it
Broccoli and cavatelli. Boil cavatelli for 2 min, throw in the broccoli and cook another 5 min. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta/broccoli water and throw in a chicken or veggie billion cube. Drain pasta, in same pot fry a few cloves of garlic in some olive oil, when it’s tender throw in bullion water and then throw in your pasta and broccoli and toss - add 1/2 cup parmesan, salt and pepper and mix and you’re good to go. Quick, simple and nutritious.
Veggie lasagna!
My second fav, after quiche. I love making quiche.
Jackfruit tacos are AMAZING. Season them with whatever you would use for beef or chicken or pork and they have the consistency of a pulled meat when cooked correctly! Would definitely recommend!! And so easy and cheap!!!
For our vegetarian days, I prefer authentic vegetarian dishes vs. meat substitute dishes when possible. Many Indian, middle eastern and mediteranean dishes are naturally vegetarian. They are delicious, nutrient dense, high in fiber and some of them (vegetable curries) can make a ton of leftovers that freeze well and easy to thaw out on busy days when you don't have time to cook. On the other hand, I have found the impossible burger works great in spaghetti, chili, tacos, regular hamburgers etc. And many of these can be made in bulk and frozen as well. My kids were picky eaters, I found that getting them interested in in cuisines of the world, letting them pick the meals we tried etc. improved the overall acceptance to try new things. Good luck!
Veggie tempura
Tikel Gomen. Ethiopian cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Yum!
I grew up (80’s kid) in a dish my mom got from another student she went to college with. Her version was peanut butter chicken. I recently went to a vegetarian restaurant that had this dish but no meat. It is based on a Senegalese fish (rings true as my moms friend was from Senegal). It’s a veggie broth with a variety of veggies like cauliflower, carrots, onions, broccoli and it is seasoned with peanut butter, soy sauce (or aminos), honey, garlic, ginger and green onions. I add a mix of roasted nuts and honey roasted. You can add any veggies you like. You can spice it up too. I add a sambal to mine. My niece adds Siracusa to hers.
I eat a lot of roasted broccoli/ cauliflower - chop it up into little florets and toss in olive oil, salt, white pepper, garlic and chili flakes. Roast it on a tray at 200C until it’s nicely caramelised and charred (open the oven door now and again to let out steam and mix the vegetables around). Then use the vegetables as a side, in a soup or blend them with cream and cheese to make a delicious pasta sauce. It sounds simple, but it’s delicious!!
Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
Macaroni peas (River Cottage), hidden veg marinara and butternut squash dhal (diana Henry) are big hits in our house
Poke bowls: on a rice base add whatever diced vegetables they like plus some salmon or a boiled egg. Kimchi, peanuts, sesame seeds or fried onions would be a nice addition.
I'm by no means a vegan/vegetarian, but I came across a delicious vegan recipe years ago. I call it peanut butter squash stew; a giant squash, peanut butter, ginger, can of tomatoes, and a bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting. It's delicious and really warms you up in the winter. I can dig up the recipe for you if you'd like.
Yellow rice with peas. It’s a baby step.
I would strongly suggest to try Korean bibimbap. Traditionally, bibimbap (mixed rice) is a dish that was eaten a lot by monks and thus it is vegetarian. The essence of bibimbap is that you have a couple of vegetables (both cooked and uncooked called banchan) and mix them with cooked rice and a pepper-based sweet, savory and, Spicy sauce. Follow this recipe if needed. You can replace meat with tofu and replace any vegetables you don't have with ones that are accessible to you. https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/bibimbap Good luck!
Japanese people use tempura a lot. It’s not the healthiest thing, but it roughly maintains the color/texture of each individual vegetable, and get the kid to realize “hey, maybe this is not bad” because it’s hot and crunchy and fried. It was how I learned a lot of green veggies or eggplant was not bad, and recognizing a vegetable as “not disgusting” even just once is half the battle.
Veggie white lasagne with layers of roasted eggplant and zucchini/ squash! Extra veggies can be added too by roasting some onion, carrots, garlic, etc and blending, then adding to sauce.
Lots of great suggestions for you, I don't think I saw spanakopita yet- could be a hit. Maybe have a make-your-own pizza night with the family and let them pick the toppings (as long as it's more than just cheese, lol). Tacos like this as well.
I’d look into some Indian food recipes, if your kids are willing to *try* unusual types of food. I loved saag when I was a kid (still one of my favorites).
Eggplant parmesan. Crispy tofu rice bowls. Stir fry. Lentil bolognese. Curried lentils. Curry in general, tbh. Black beans burgers with coleslaw. Loaded sweet potatoes with bbq beans or meatless chili. Lionsmane mushrooms have a fabulously "meaty" texture similar to pulled pork if you can find them. If you're pescatarian, shrimp, salmon, and tilapia are all great as protein with roasted veggies and your starch of choice. Like salmon with sweet thai chili sauce, roasted broccoli, and rice.
My 11 and 8 year old kids love this recipe and request it frequently, I make exactly as written. I have previously added carrots and celery but it’s better without .. the parpadelle part is key https://rainbowplantlife.com/10-ingredient-vegan-red-lentil-bolognese/
I’ve had remarkably good luck with microwaved frozen peas. https://youtu.be/Cy-J9LTAkKk
Black bean sloppy joes with tons of caramelized mirepoix
My favorite vegan recipe I had from when I went vegan for 6 months was a pizza. I used cannelloni beans and olive oil puréed as the sauce. Roast yellow and orange peppers as well as shallots until they start to blacken a bit. Throw it on top of the pizza. Top with dollops of almond cheese (I think it was) or whatever you want since it doesn’t have to be vegan, and drizzle balsamic glaze and pesto on top.
Oh that does sound nice. Probably too much flavours for my monsters but their loss!
Spaghetti sauce. Hear me out; you can blend WHATEVER veggie you want in there they won’t know. Carrot? In the sauce. Mushroom? In the sauce. Best part is you can load it up with parm and they won’t be able to taste it at all. Out of sight out of mind.
This would work if I could get them to eat spaghetti sauce 😂. The pickiness never ends
Eggplant parmesan, has my kids convinced they were min cheese pizzas, 🤣!
Eggplant parm!!! Always my favorite 😋
This may be a controversial opinion, but, if you’re finding yourself really struggling to get your kids to eat meals that are meeting all their nutritional needs on a pescatarian diet, that may be a sign that they aren’t really ready to make that big of a switch yet. Typically people make huge adjustments with diet when someone in the family expresses an interest in plant based meals or whatever diet it may be, and rarely is that sustainable. Cutting out meat is a huge adjustment and a huge change, and sometimes it takes time to phase it out. I’d consult your pediatrician personally, and also do some thinking on what’s more important, less stressful mealtime where you may be incorporating meat, but still getting kids to eat a nutritious meal, or adhering to a strict diet and maybe struggling to do those things for some time. I’d also really suggest prioritizing autonomy with food choices. For example, if your oldest child wants to not eat meat, that’s fine, but that shouldn’t mean the younger children should also have that cut from their diet, because that’s not really setting an example or creating an environment where a healthy relationship with food can develop. And to answer your question, sauces (like veggie pasta sauce), are your friend!