My daughter has decided to become veggie

[REignbow]

Hi,

My 12 year old daughter, has decided to become vegetarian. I am not happy feeding her quorn/impossible meat substitutes all the time.

So can anyone recommend any good kid friendly recipes please?

Just as a side note, she is quite texture adverse so is not keen on mushrooms (although will eat if cut very very small like breadcrumbs), aubergine, courgette etc. She is also not so keen on soups.

Some ideas I have had are

bean burgers
veggie bites
bean and cheese quesadillas
cauliflower curry

thanks in advance

Will she eat tofu? Spicy Tofu noodle soup is a big favourite in our house. We also do tofu fajitas a lot.

Also firm favourites are:

Spinach and feta filo pies
Lentil bolognese
Spanish omelette

Don’t knock things like Quorn and soya mince. They’re handy to have in the freezer and she needs protein.

I do a spicy bean casserole with different tinned beans and that’s tasty and nutritious. I dish mine up then add cooked chorizo in for the meat eaters.

Soya mince (Sainsbury’s do a decent one) for spag bol, lasagne or chilli.

Veggie fajitas.

Mixed vegetable curry.

Quorn burgers/nuggets/pies etc. are handy because they’re easy to cook and can easily go with the veg and potatoes etc. that the rest of the family are eaten. Similarly cheese & onion pasties.

You’ll be fine once you’ve established your pattern I think.

I am vegetarian (life long). DS 11 is a pescatarian who doesn’t like a handful of things. DD is a meat eater, doesn’t like fish, but is also fussy and predictably doesn’t have the same fussiness items as DS has. DH will eat anything except seafood.

you can imagine that mix at meal planning time!

but we manage, well. It’s no issue!

books and post its were a good idea. Everyone looked at the book and stuck a certain coloured post it for them against it the recipe - if anything got 3 votes it was tried. The 4th would get a variation on the theme.

delias vegetarian book has always been the most successful with the most meals accepted by all. James ‘veg’ is another good one.

we don’t eat a lot of meat substitutes at all - maybe sausages for breakfast sandwiches, and quorn nuggets maybe once a month, that’s it.

Lifelong vegetarian family (and no eggs). Children are swimmers so eat a lot and are not too fussy though again don’t like big pieces of mushrooms, courgette and aubergine. However they will eat all of these if used in some recipes.

some of our regular meals:

• veg and kidney bean fajitas or tacos or enchiladas or loaded nachos
• pesto pasta or spaghetti bolognaise with lentils or frozen soya mince
• stir fries or Thai curries using veg and tofu
• various vegetable curries, lentil Dahl, chickpea curry
• lentil shepherds pie, burnt aubergine chilli, cauliflower cheese, homemade nut roast or pie with roast dinner
• sausage and vegetable tray bake

Good heavens, expensive though! Great that they're British grown but for example their dried chickpeas are £3.79 compared to £1.35 for the same amount in Tesco.

This is lovely www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/double-bean-roasted-pepper-chilli

Another idea, which others have touched on, is dishes that utilise a common base, sides, and accompaniments, but with a topping which can be switched out meat/veggie depending on who is eating it. That way it's largely the same dish and not much more effort but pleases everyone.

• Congee
• Tacos
• Pizza
• Puff pastry tart
• Toad in the hole
• Salads
• Bibimbap
• Burgers
• Pho/ramen

DH and I are meat eaters, who love meat, and eat vegetarian multiple times a week just because vegetarian food can, and should be, as delicious, nutritious, and satisfying as meat based meals. Since eating more hybrid we have also increased the breadth and quantity of vegetables we eat, which is only a good thing.

Bean chilli - I have butter beans and kidney beans with peppers and onions. Cheese and tortilla chips on top. Make a separate pan of meat chilli for DH and DC.

Lentil tacos/burritos - tinned green lentils simmered with taco seasoning and a water until water has reduced. With roasted peppers, tomatoes and onions, cheese, salsa etc. Homemade wedges, corn cob and cheese coleslaw on the side (favourite dinner!) Separate pan of meat one for the otters.

Butternut squash risotto with peas. I cook chicken separately and add after I’ve taken out mine.

I make a separate pan of curry for myself with cauliflower, chickpeas and peppers. Toasted almonds on top for extra protein.

Tofu for stir frys or Tesco plant chef chunks.

I blitz a few handfuls of fresh spinach until it’s in tiny pieces and stir into to curries, shepherds pie, risotto etc just before serving for extra greens. DC don’t really notice and think it’s herbs.

I tend to stay away from Quorn after my stomach spontaneously rejected it! I like the Tesco plant chef range and Birds Eye with soy or pea protein.

Maybe add fritters to all the suggestions you've had? A great way to add eggs and to eat many of the veg she's not keen on, and a great meal or side dish for the meat eaters. Sweetcorn fritters are insanely easy and work really nicely alongside chicken. Courgette fritters work nicely with a mediterranean vibe - some tzatziki, some houmous, some nice breads etc.

Falafels
Mediterranean veg on toast
Vegetarian goulash
Cous cous
Pasta with cheesy leeks
Cauliflower and chickpea curry

Mushroom burgers are pretty good
Dhal
Puy lentils

There are lots of falafel recipes that can be oven baked in batches and then reheated. They are great for a quick tea with pita and salad.
Stuffed peppers with cous cous and roasted veg and topped with mozzarella.
There are loads of pasta dishes, arabiata, lemon and broccoli spaghetti, roasted vegetable pasta bake.
Haloumi skewers
Cauliflower cheese and veg.
If she likes pancake savoury pancakes with leek and blue cheese filling are great.
As many PPs have said there are loads of veggie curries and Dahls.

The thing I would say to be careful of is overdoing the cheese .. my 14 year old is a cheese nut and it’s been hard to get him to accept other proteins ! .. I get it as I love cheese too .

I try and give 3 different protein sources in through the day and pudding involves a handful of nuts as well as yoghurt fruit and cake .

Can I ask why you are not happy to feed her meat substitutes?
Plant Pioneers mince was a game changer for me and is 3 packs for £5 in Morrisons atm. I get 3 meals out of that 😀😀😀

Agree with this actually, the Richmond vegan sausages and burgers are really good, filling and tasty - you can do the burgers with salad and a cheese slice. I was quite against meat substitutes as have been vegetarian for over 40 years but These days there are some very acceptable subs. Richmond sausages in particular they are lovely herby and tasty and low fat/Cals lovely for a breakfast or with veg and mash / gravy

@Stockcleandemon
i definitely overdo cheese, cheese is almost a hobby for me I love it so much ❤️

Sorry that’s 3 meals per pack 😀😀
Also Beyond Burgers and These Are Not Meat products.
My energy levels were really low as I didn’t eat eggs either ( egg intolerance) but since including these products I feel as energised as when I ate meat.

Hi @REignbow
Loads of great suggestions on the thread - am a big fan of Meera Sodha and her vegetarian books are well worth a look at.

You've mentioned some limitations she already has so I'd echo posts from others about overall nutritional content. Plus, and am aware many may suggest I'm doom-mongering here - but how is her eating generally? I raise it only because many of us on the teen eating disorders thread have experience of DC opting into being vegetarian/vegan as part of their way to limit food intake. Just to clarify - am not suggesting all do this, but it is a recurrent theme. If all is good then grand, but if you have a niggles then my advice would be don't suppress them.

Pizza
cheese pie
jacket potatoes
veggie burgers
crispbakes and salad
veggie curry
veggie chilli
canneloni
all sorts of pastas and sauces
egg and beans on toast
Omlettes
soups
veggie traybakes with halloumi
veg fajitas halloumi fajitas
cheese toasties
Quiche
risottos