Vegetarian/vegan gluten free, kid friendly, easy meals?

[raeoflyte]

I've got the baked potatoes down, but I'd like to have a few more options.  No one is demanding, but I like to have parties a few times a year and I like to have something for everyone--especially the kids.  Taco/nacho bar is probably the next best option?  

[giramomma]

We do mexican because it accommodates the herbivores and omnivores. But, sometimes DD1 will just eat cheese.

My girls love the Tasty Bite Indian Lentils. They come in 2 serving pouches at Costco. I'm staring at one, and they are gluten free, and even kosher.

Plus, they come in a bag, and all you have to do is heat. That's my kind of easy. There's sodium, but it's not awful.

I would think Mediterranean, though. Some sort of hummus plate with nut crackers would be a good option. My kids like hummus.

MIL does a veggie pizza with crescent rolls for the crust that we all like. I did a quick google search and it looks like you could maybe do a cauliflower crust instead.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Yeah, tacos is easiest for us for gluten and dairy free.  My kids are loving the taco bowls/boats but they're not gf yet.  We ran across them at a friend's party last year and it's made tacos even easier at our house because I don't have to heat them. 

[shanendoah]

I do a one pot enchilada pasta. I use the quinoa pasta (I've found it holds up the best). The original recipe is for ground turkey and calls for cheese, but I make it without on a fairly regular basis.

Also, there are some really great chili recipes out there. I found a really good black bean and mango chili that's been popular. It's nice because it's a crock pot recipe.

[Tiny]

Not sure if you are looking for finger food or not....  you could google vegan casserole recipes for some ideas.  You will need to read thru the recipes to see if they meet all your criteria.      

I can't find it, today, but I did print out a "taco themed' lasagna-like  baked casserole that met my criteria for gluten free, vegetarian (dairy/eggs ok), easy transport/serving.   It was something you could cut into lasagna like squares to serve.    It's wasn't "taco salad" or an appetizer.  Wish I could find it again.  I haven't made it yet - but will for "away game night" as it should travel well and could be a 'main course'. 


Other "basic" things you could build a meal around:    gnocchi,  spaghetti squash, or polenta.   

I've got a polenta based lasagna bake I will eventually make.   

You can microwave the spaghetti squash quickly.    And dishes made with spaghetti squash tend to re-heat ok. 

[weltschmerz]

www.emilieeats.com/easy-vegan-bbq-jackfruit-sandwiches/

Jackfruit pulled "pork".

[thyme4change]

Falafel? I make a avocado herb 'sauce' (dip?) as a substitute for tzatziki. That can make the meal true vegan. My kids always liked it - but my kids are pretty flexible eaters. I can give the recipe if you are interested.

[debthaven]

Not vegan, vegetarian.

I used to do cherry tomato/mozzarella ball toothpick skewers with a bit of basil and olive oil for DS1's and DS3's school events and kids' parties.

They were always a HUGE hit with the kids. I always volunteered at their school's Halloween fete. Those skewers were gone in SECONDS, because the only other options were potato or nacho chips LOL.

It's probably different now, I'm sure there are more healthy choices. But they are easy and fun to make, and the kids can help make them. They can cut when they're old enough, and when they're younger, you can cut, and the kids can put them on the toothpick skewers.  

ETA: You can also make other combinations. The other popular one that comes to mind is not vegetarian though (melon and ham). You can also do fruit ones for dessert. (strawberry + mango, strawberry + pineapple, etc).

[Tiny]

Looking thru my recipes now that I'm home. I tend to pick a "main" ingredient and then google recipes...

What about sweet potato tater tots with different dips? I don't have a recipe but there are plenty vegetarian ones online - find with the fewest "special" or "one of a kind" ingredients - a basic recipe should work. I've had them, they were kinda fun and tasty to eat. I was told they weren't too difficult to make from scratch.


What about a quick vegi quiche made with ready made crust(s)?

What about something with soba noodles? You probably need to read the package - I think some soba noodles have wheat in them but not all.

Maybe google some paleo kid friendly recipes? I know it seems to be treated as a strictly carnivore diet plan (well atleast by my family/friends -- as in they ONLY eat meat/meat products) but it's not... you might find or be able to adapt some recipes.

[raeoflyte]

Jul 24, 2019 11:36:29 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

www.emilieeats.com/easy-vegan-bbq-jackfruit-sandwiches/

Jackfruit pulled "pork".

I've been wanting to try that.  That would be a good option to have for a bbq this summer.  

[raeoflyte]

Jul 24, 2019 11:41:26 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Falafel? I make a avocado herb 'sauce' (dip?) as a substitute for tzatziki. That can make the meal true vegan. My kids always liked it - but my kids are pretty flexible eaters. I can give the recipe if you are interested.

Yes, please!  I love greek, but without tzatziki what's the point?  I haven't managed to make my own falafel, but could buy it or practice.  

[raeoflyte]

Jul 24, 2019 23:48:50 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Looking thru my recipes now that I'm home. I tend to pick a "main" ingredient and then google recipes...

What about sweet potato tater tots with different dips? I don't have a recipe but there are plenty vegetarian ones online - find with the fewest "special" or "one of a kind" ingredients - a basic recipe should work. I've had them, they were kinda fun and tasty to eat. I was told they weren't too difficult to make from scratch.


What about a quick vegi quiche made with ready made crust(s)?

What about something with soba noodles? You probably need to read the package - I think some soba noodles have wheat in them but not all.

Maybe google some paleo kid friendly recipes? I know it seems to be treated as a strictly carnivore diet plan (well atleast by my family/friends -- as in they ONLY eat meat/meat products) but it's not... you might find or be able to adapt some recipes.

I don't know about for a group meal, but we love soba noodles that we've had when out.  Every soba noodle I've tried to buy at the store is truly awful.  I guess I can start trying to order online, but I don't know what the difference is so I feel like I'm just going to get more awful delivered to me. 

[Tiny]

I found this about gluten free asian noodles: 

www.thekitchn.com/glutenfree-asian-noodles-121367



I'm going to a pot luck tomorrow night - and I hear there will be a noodle dish - and I strongly suspect it will be gluten free along with vegetarian.   If it is gluten free  soba noodles I will report back what brand was used.         

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

We also buy the lentils packs from Costco. I love them as does DD#2 and one of her friends who is here often.


We also like artichokes, but my understanding is that tends to be a west coast dish.

[thyme4change]

Jul 25, 2019 9:12:49 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Jul 24, 2019 11:41:26 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Falafel? I make a avocado herb 'sauce' (dip?) as a substitute for tzatziki. That can make the meal true vegan. My kids always liked it - but my kids are pretty flexible eaters. I can give the recipe if you are interested.

Yes, please!  I love greek, but without tzatziki what's the point?  I haven't managed to make my own falafel, but could buy it or practice.  

I hope I didn't misrepresent- this doesn't taste like tzatziki, but I really like it with falafel.


1 garlic clove (who only uses 1 ever?)
2 medium avocado (about 1 cup packed flesh)
1/4 c olive oil
1 cup packed fresh herbs (2 different kinds - half cup each) I have used basil, cilantro and parsley. You might want to try with mint, as it will give you the tzatziki nod
1/2 cup packed green onion (green part only)
Juice of a lemon (3 - 4 tablespoons)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar- optional (I don't use it, but it is on the original recipe)
7 -8 tablespoons water
Salt to taste (1 teaspoon)

Add garlic to food processor and process until finely chopped

Add half the water, oil, avocado, herbs and onion. Process until smooth.

Slowly add lemon juice, vinegar and remaining water until you like the taste and consistency, stopping to blend and taste often. Salt to finish.

**Since I don't use vinegar, I usually just juice the whole lemon, and add most of the water right away.

I wonder if you could add grated and squeezed out cucumber in place of 1 of the herbs, and then use mint as the other. That may make it even more tzatziki flavored. You could probably add it in addition to the cup of herbs. If necessary, just add water until it smooths out.

When I make this for the family, my son doesn't eat it, and I think my husband doesn't eat a lot of it. But my daughter and I load up, and still have leftovers, which we use as a dip for vegetables the next day at lunch.

[sheilaincali]

We have a couple of rice dishes we make (I'm gluten free and I try to limit my dairy since that's not exactly my friend). We were vegetarian for years but aren't currently. It's just me and the Hubs and we both work like 60 hours a week so we don't get too fancy.

Chicken Fried Rice- We have made this several times with riced cauliflower too.  You could skip the chicken (we go lazy and get the pre-cooked Tyson's chicken strips and cut it up) or do a fake chicken substitute. Rice (we make the plain, long grain rice in the instapot). It's basically chicken, rice, a bag of mixed veggies or stir fry veggies, gluten free soy sauce. When we serve it we add gluten free yum yum sauce. Easy peasy. Not super imaginative but it re-heats nicely for leftovers.

Mexican Rice- rice, ground beef (could use tvp or a meat substitute), can of black beans and a can of diced tomatoes. Could sprinkle cheese on it if you want.

We just eat these as our main dish- you could add some sides to it if you wanted it.  About 1/2 of our meals are elaborate and 1/2 are super simple.

[Cookies Galore]

Jul 25, 2019 9:10:26 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Jul 24, 2019 11:36:29 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

www.emilieeats.com/easy-vegan-bbq-jackfruit-sandwiches/

Jackfruit pulled "pork".

I've been wanting to try that.  That would be a good option to have for a bbq this summer.  

Jackfruit is awesome. I get mine from Trader Joe's. BBQ, thai curry, it's all good.

[weltschmerz]

Jul 25, 2019 13:52:53 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

We have a couple of rice dishes we make (I'm gluten free and I try to limit my dairy since that's not exactly my friend). We were vegetarian for years but aren't currently. It's just me and the Hubs and we both work like 60 hours a week so we don't get too fancy.

Chicken Fried Rice- We have made this several times with riced cauliflower too.  You could skip the chicken (we go lazy and get the pre-cooked Tyson's chicken strips and cut it up) or do a fake chicken substitute. Rice (we make the plain, long grain rice in the instapot). It's basically chicken, rice, a bag of mixed veggies or stir fry veggies, gluten free soy sauce. When we serve it we add gluten free yum yum sauce. Easy peasy. Not super imaginative but it re-heats nicely for leftovers.

Mexican Rice- rice, ground beef (could use tvp or a meat substitute), can of black beans and a case of diced tomatoes. Could sprinkle cheese on it if you want.

We just eat these as our main dish- you could add some sides to it if you wanted it.  About 1/2 of our meals are elaborate and 1/2 are super simple.

A case of diced tomatoes seems excessive.

[Cookies Galore]

Jul 25, 2019 16:49:17 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Jul 25, 2019 13:52:53 GMT -5 sheilaincali said:

We have a couple of rice dishes we make (I'm gluten free and I try to limit my dairy since that's not exactly my friend). We were vegetarian for years but aren't currently. It's just me and the Hubs and we both work like 60 hours a week so we don't get too fancy.

Chicken Fried Rice- We have made this several times with riced cauliflower too.  You could skip the chicken (we go lazy and get the pre-cooked Tyson's chicken strips and cut it up) or do a fake chicken substitute. Rice (we make the plain, long grain rice in the instapot). It's basically chicken, rice, a bag of mixed veggies or stir fry veggies, gluten free soy sauce. When we serve it we add gluten free yum yum sauce. Easy peasy. Not super imaginative but it re-heats nicely for leftovers.

Mexican Rice- rice, ground beef (could use tvp or a meat substitute), can of black beans and a case of diced tomatoes. Could sprinkle cheese on it if you want.

We just eat these as our main dish- you could add some sides to it if you wanted it.  About 1/2 of our meals are elaborate and 1/2 are super simple.

A case of diced tomatoes seems excessive.

Obviously she likes tomatoes!

[weltschmerz]

Jul 25, 2019 15:09:39 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Jul 25, 2019 9:10:26 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I've been wanting to try that.  That would be a good option to have for a bbq this summer.  

Jackfruit is awesome. I get mine from Trader Joe's. BBQ, thai curry, it's all good.

Isn't it? I recently had jackfruit pulled pork that was to die for, from an Israeli vegetarian take-out place.

[sheilaincali]

Tomatoes are awesome- but fine, go ahead a use a can instead