Calling all vegetrians!

[monkeymonkeymoomoo]

We are having a cashflow problem at the mo (only £200 to last the whole of December incl Xmas) so to save cash we need to go vegetarian for the month Not a problem for me! So I was wondering if you are veggie do you cook veggie meals for your small children i.e. under one and if so what do you cook to ensure they get all their nutrients?

A tomato sauce for pasta can have some boiled red lentils added - gives it a bit more texture and is good for protein (I think).

Hearty soups containing split peas or lentils as well as lots of veg.

mashed root veg with cheese.

roasted veg with garlic.

Cauliflower cheese.

Omelettes with veg.

Veg quiche.

Pancakes filled with mushrooms in white sauce, topped with tomato sauce and a sprinkle of cheese and baked in the oven.

Cabbage leaves blanched and stuffed with rice and peas, sweetcorn (or any other veg you like) and mango chutney, covered in passata and cheese and baked.

Pasta cooked and mixed with cooked veg in a sauce (cheese, white, or tomato). Eat as it is or put cheese on top and oven bake.

I'm loving the sound of the cabbage leaves one, might try that tonight.

stew with barley and lentils
blanch and freeze veg to save it going off
miso is good but expensive but is good for nutrients
dried soys and make shepardess pie
use fortified cereals for breakfast with juice (for iron)
stir fries (ensure cheese or something for teh oth ermeal to help with protein levels)
baked beans (iron) wholemeal breads

this page may help? For under ones I wouldn't bother too much about nutrients as I presume they are still having a good proportion of milk? We brought ds up on a vegan diet until he was 1 and he was absolutely fine - fat and thriving

I would just be careful if you are giving adult style veggie meals not to overload on fibre - brown rice and lots of pulses can be hard for small stomachs in any quantity, and to add extra fat (this can just be in the form of olive oil added to the food) to make sure they are getting enough calories.

I would be wary of relying too much on cheese for protein as it is quite salty. Don't get too hung up about protein - there is plenty of protein in grains and in fact most vegetables - you would only really lack protein if you were eating a mainly fruitarian diet.

HTH

Get dried beans and soak them overnight, then cook them according to their instructions. Miles cheaper than chips and full of nutrients. More hassle than tinned beans, but waaaay cheaper. Lentils are deeply underrated imo - dirt cheap, really tasty (red/green/brown and puy all have different textures), good sources of protein and iron, which can be hard to get in veggie meals.

DS is 17 months and completely veggie, as are we - we are all very healthy!

another veggie/vegan here, fave cheapo meals are
casserole - with any root veg and some lentils to thicken, also good with dumplings to bulk it out a bit,
Tomato soup with cheap tin of toms, some brown sugar/blackstrap molasses and milk
Any variation on the theme of cauliflower cheese - had it tonight with curly kale and pasta
potato cakes
home made veggie burgers - dried soya mince or mashed kidney beans, mashed carrot,onion, potato and flour to bind it all together.
bubble and squeak- use any leftover greens with potato
cabbage stuffed with sosmix
Pasties with dried soya mince carrots and potatos, make yr own pastry, cheap and v filling
This thread has inspired me to a bit of pre xmas food budgeting. Good luck!

One we found very popular when ds was young was a korma style curry - just very mild spices for flavouring and lots of creamed coconut to make the sauce, raisins for extra sweetness plus ground almonds if you have no worries about allergies. Chickpeas and lots of root veg fill out the curry inexpensively, and then you can also pad the meal with rice / potatoes. The saturated fat in the coconut is very good for babies, and adds a sweet and creamy taste which children enjoy.

Is there anything you can stir fry apart from veggies IYKWIM?

Thanks guys, all sounds very yummy. Have made notes and will give your suggestions a try!