Kid Classics
Being vegetarian doesn’t mean having to give up classic
kid fare. While whole, unprocessed fruits, vegetables,
grains, and legumes should be chosen first, many of the
foods children enjoy can be adapted to fit into a vegetarian
menu. Here are some tips:
• Pizza. Try ordering pizza without the cheese and pile on the veggies. If making
pizza at home, top it with vegetables, soy cheese, and veggie pepperoni.
• Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. Both come in a wide variety of veggie versions.
You can microwave them, bake them, grill them, and top them with
everything you traditionally enjoy, including soy cheese.
• Cold Cut Sandwiches. Even the cold cut now has a nonmeat alternative.
Try a slice of veggie ham, veggie turkey, or veggie salami topped with lettuce
and tomato and a thin layer of mustard or vegan mayonnaise between slices
of whole-wheat bread.
• Chicken Nuggets and Buffalo Wings. Several companies offer these
traditional favorites in veggie form (look in the frozen food section of the
supermarket). Just add ketchup or barbecue sauce.
• Ice Cream. Soy or nut-based ice creams are a terrific nondairy alternative
that comes in a variety of styles and flavors. For a twist, add frozen fruit and
a little soymilk to vanilla soy ice cream, and blend to make a smoothie. A
scoop of fruit sorbet—found at many of the large ice cream chains or at the
grocery store—is also a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.
• Fast Food. Food chains such as Subway offer vegetarian sandwiches, and
Taco Bell makes a bean burrito (just ask them to hold the cheese).