Vegan Lunch Ideas for 15 Month Old?

Question

Looking for some quick, healthy lunch and dinner ideas for my 15 month old that are vegan. He wont' eat tofu, but will sometimes eat tempeh, depending on his mood, and he's afraid of rice. Any suggestions are very helpful!!!!

Answer 1

when I need something quick and easy I make my 17-month old noodles and spaghetti sauce! She is also a big fan on Thomas Bagels w/ Better than Cream cheese spread (it's tofu, and even my meat-eating husband can't tell) sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. For dinner, 2 things I do in a pinch are Vegetarian refried bean burritos- or tri-colored rotini, broccoli, tomatoes, black olives (sometimes my daughter eats them, sometimes she doesn't) tossed with Italian dressing. Have had lots of luck with those 4 things- she also loves pita bread triangles and store-bought hummus. And instant Quaker Oatmeal packets......

Answer 2

Toddlers and preschoolers, whether vegan or not, tend to eat less than most parents think they should. This is generally due to a developing sense of independence and a slowing in growth. While nutrient needs are also relatively lower than during infancy, an adequate diet remains important to promote growth and development. These early years are also important for developing healthy eating patterns that can establish a foundation for a healthful adult diet.

One important consideration for young vegan children is the ability to get enough calories. Young children have small stomachs and too much high fiber food may make them feel full before they get all the calories they need. Foods such as avocados, nut and seed butters, dried fruits, and soya products provide a concentrated source of calories. If necessary, the fibre content of the diet can be reduced by giving some refined grain products, fruit juices and peeled fruits and vegetables. Eating more frequent meals, including nutritious snacks, can also help to ensure adequate energy intakes.

Answer 3

Sandwiches are the obvious choice for a reason - they transport easily, they're relatively neat to eat with your hands (which means you don't need to worry about silverware) and PBJs in particular don't need refrigeration. Add some veggie sticks or a piece of fruit and you have a very healthy lunch. If you don't like sandwiches and are willing to carry around a cooler, then you can bring yogurt, pasta or potato salad, leftover cold chicken - anything you're willing to eat cold that won't get too bruised or mashed by being carted around. If you're willing to carry around a cooler and have access to a microwave, then you can bring quite a few different things. I usually pack up the leftovers from the previous night's dinner and bring those.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Please don't pay any attention to misinformed people who see veganism as a sign of neglect - of course it isn't as a vegan diet can provide all the nurishment a child needs. It does mean that you have to be extra careful though, as kids can be picky as you know! Does your son like potato? That's a good stable food that you can use to tempt him. Try potato and lentil bake topped with vegan cheese -that is filling and soft to the taste. Also shepherds pie with soya or quinoa mince, again topped with vegan cheese for extra protein. Soups are also good, as kids often like the smooth texture - try squash and potato soup which is nice and wholesome. If your son will eat pasta then you have loads of options - you could try spaghetti bolognaise using soya mince or even lentils. Don't give your son nuts as it isn't safe while he's young. Keep giving him soya or rice milk to drink and he will be fine. You will also find various fake meat products you can use on him, such as fake chicken chunks. Tofu (made from soya) is great for protein if your son will eat it.
Good luck! And ignore well intentioned people who don't have a clue what they're talking about - veganism is very healthy as long as you take care to provide all the nutrients your child needs. Seeing a nutrionist who is non prejudiced to veganism might well help if your son does get very picky.

Answer 6

Don't spoil your kids. Make him eat rice and tofu. It's good for him. Let him have other foods, too (like meatless chicken nuggets and meatless hot dogs), but do make him eat "good food". Also, about the vegetarian diet, its ok for a kid to have one. He will be healthier and not as fat as he grows. Give him soy milk, though. That's good for kids.

Here are some ideas to give your kid:

~Meatless Chicken Nuggets
~Soy Ice Cream
~Rice
~Whole Grain Cereals
~Fruit (younger kids usually like it chopped)
~Veggies (I've discovered that lots of kids have a liking for broccoli and corn)
~Meatless Hot Dogs
~Meatless Breakfast Sausages
~Vegetarian Pizzas
~Juice(especially those Juicy-Juice ones)
~Lots of Yogurt
~Graham Crackers


Popular Snacks:

-Ants on a Log (celery sticks topped with vegan cream cheese or peanut butter and raisins)
- Carrot and Celery Sticks with a fun dip
-Vegan Sour Ceam and Chips
-Yogurt with some Granola or Cereal
-Granola and possibly some nuts
-Dried Fruit

Good Luck!

P.S. - Young kids tend to be pickier about their food choices because they are exploring their world, so that could be one reason why he doesn't like certain foods.

=)

Answer 7

These lunch ideas are probally not appropriate for a 15 month old, but if you've not seen this website, it's pretty cute and has some good vegan lunch ideas for children . . or adults for that matter. . .

www.veganlunchbox.com

Answer 8

A nice cheese and mushroom omelet.

I'm vegetarian, and have been since birth, but am still put off by the idea of a kid being vegan at that age. Even Dr Spock never went so radical.

If you can't get him to eat a well-rounded diet while being a vegan, the responsible thing to do is enlarge his diet a bit. You do not have to feed him red meat tomorrow, but.

I cannot find any advice on-line about menu suggestions for vegan babies that isn't flaky, poorly researched, and ultimately useless. Please talk to your paediatrician; at least see a nutritionist/dietician if you're going to stick with the vegan bit.

Answer 9

I agree that there's nothing wrong with a vegan diet for a child - in fact, if you are feeding him a good range of vegetables, protein, fats, etc, he'll be better off than those children eating heavily-processed foods and cheap meat that is full of hormones and chemicals. If you see it in that way, it's not 'forcing' him to eat anything: in fact, it's other parents who force their kids to eat substances never intended for sensitive baby stomachs. Sorry, slightly off-topic. We're vege ourselves rather than vegan, but most of what we feed our daughter could be easily adapted. her favourites include:
Pasta with pesto and a mix of pulses/veg;
Mashed potato, peas and vege sausage;
Savoury pancake with spinach and mushroom 9and in our case cheese) filling;
Vege burgers
Avocado dip with crudites.
hash potatoes mixed with red peppers, onions, garlic, etc.
Hope that helps.

Oh, PS - try mixing rice a little at a time with whatever he prefers strongly. that's how we got our daughter to eat potatoes.

Answer 10

Don't listen to these people who tell you not to have your child eat vegan food. Vegan children are taller, healthier and ill less often than their meat-eating counterparts.

children will eat the same amount of calories every day if they are given free choice in their food. How about fruit, raw vegetables, steamed vegis, tofu puddings with sugar substitutes, like stevia.

Let him play with rice and see you eating it alot. children want to eat what you want to eat because they model themselves after you.