When you have kids, it can be hard enough to get them to eat dinner, and even harder if you tell them it’s all vegetables. But over the past few years, my family has been moving towards more plant-based meals for a variety of reasons, and without the option of a quick store run, stretching your groceries by using less meat is a great way to make sure you don’t have to leave the house as much.
Here are five of my kids’ favorite veggie-filled dinners:
- Quesadillas are always a great easy option; you can do just beans and cheese or add any vegetables you have in the fridge. This recipe from Nourish and Fete is great to get started on an easy Mexican night with the family.
2. I know it’s getting warm here in the Lowcountry and Shepherd’s Pie is kind of a cold-weather meal, but I think we could all use some more comfort food in our life right now. The Minimalist Baker is one of my favorite places to go for easy recipes, and she doesn’t disappoint with this one.
3. Minestrone soup is another easy go-to here because I can literally just throw it all in a pot and walk away for a while, and it’s always great as leftovers, or if you cook the noodles separately, you can even freeze it for a later date. This recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod is a foolproof way to make your own.
4. So, my kids absolutely love quinoa chili. So much so, that they won’t eat chili if it has meat in it now, and the best part about chili is that it’s so customizable to fit your family’s taste. If you like corn in your chili, add it. If you don’t like diced tomatoes, just use tomato sauce. If you want it spicier, add some jalapenos on top! This recipe from Simple Veganista is easy, healthy, and delicious.
5. I decided to try to make a kid-friendly curry after getting lunch from one of my favorite local restaurants, JackRabbit Filly. I ordered their veggie curry bowl, and it was so good I had to make something similar at home. I found this recipe from Jessica in the Kitchen. It’s not spicy, which is good for my kids, and it has that great coconut curry flavor that I love!
*Bonus Recipe*
If all else fails in getting kids to sit down and eat some vegetables, it’s always very acceptable to make box mac and cheese and throw a handful of frozen riced cauliflower or sweet potatoes in while the noodles are cooking. They hide well, and the kids usually don’t notice.
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