This post is sponsored by Gardein, a popular plant-based meat brand. Like me, they’re committed to helping people eat less meat. I had a lot of fun creating these kid-friendly vegan recipes using a few of my favorite Gardein products. Below you’ll find recipes, a video, and practical tips for transitioning your family to a vegan lifestyle.
Every back-to-school season I get the same requests: kid-friendly vegan recipes and tips for transitioning kids to a vegan lifestyle. In this post I combine both. These recipes are simple, family-friendly, and also great for singles.
One of the easiest ways to go vegan is to veganize favorite dishes. Spices, sauces, and cooking methods are what make meat-based meals satisfying. Replace the meat (and dairy, when required) with plant-based alternatives and keep the flavors and techniques you love. With good seasoning and the right substitutes, most classics can be made vegan.
For example, I made a meaty lasagna by swapping ground beef for Gardein beefless ground and layered it the same way as a classic lasagna. The cheesy “chicken” quesadilla uses Gardein chick’n strips and vegan cheese, and the crispy sushi roll uses Gardein fishless filets. Pick a Gardein product that matches the meat in your usual recipes and prepare it with the sauces and spices you already enjoy. If a recipe calls for cheese, use a vegan melty cheese—Follow Your Heart is one of my favorites for quesadillas and pizza.
Tips to make switching to a vegan lifestyle easier and sustainable for the whole family
- Get kids involved in cooking. Even small tasks—rinsing veggies, stirring, or finding ingredients—help children feel invested in meals and more likely to try them.
- Watch educational documentaries together. For older kids or adults making the change with you, films that explore health, environment, and animal welfare can provide purpose and motivation during the transition.
- Introduce fiber-rich foods gradually. If your family isn’t used to a high-fiber diet, add whole grains, beans, greens, and cruciferous vegetables slowly so digestion can adjust comfortably.
- Offer fruit for snacks. Fruit is nutrient-dense and widely enjoyed; keeping fresh fruit or smoothies available makes healthy snacking easy for kids and adults.
- Make changes slowly for picky eaters. Use kid-friendly vegan recipes and add new foods into familiar dishes rather than forcing unfamiliar items all at once.
Meaty Vegan Lasagna | Kid Friendly Vegan Recipes
Ingredients
Tofu cheese
- ½ block firm organic tofu
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp sea salt
Lasagna
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked or oven-ready
- 1 jar tomato sauce (or 3 cups homemade)
- ½–1 package Gardein beefless ground (adjust to preference)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tsp Italian herb blend
Instructions
- Make the tofu cheese: blend tofu, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, and salt until creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Warm 2 cups of tomato sauce in a skillet. Add the Gardein beefless ground and simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread about ½ cup sauce on the bottom of a 9×13″ casserole dish and lay 3–4 noodles evenly over the sauce.
- Spread tofu cheese over the noodles, top with beefless ground, then add a layer of fresh spinach. Repeat layers until ingredients are used.
- Top with remaining noodles, spread remaining sauce and tofu cheese on top, and sprinkle Italian seasoning.
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes. Let rest about 10 minutes before serving.
Crispy Vegan Sushi | Kid Friendly Vegan Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 pieces Gardein fishless filets
- 4 sheets sushi nori and a sushi mat
- 2 cups cooked brown rice, cooled
- 1 carrot, julienned
- ½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp vegan mayo
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 2 tbsp panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup pickled ginger and ¼ cup soy sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven or toaster oven to 425°F (220°C). Bake fishless filets on parchment for about 12 minutes until crispy.
- Once cool enough to handle, cut each filet into three strips.
- Place a nori sheet on the sushi mat. Spread ½ cup rice over the bottom third of the nori (closest to you).
- Top rice with carrot, bell pepper, avocado, and three strips of fishless filet.
- Roll by lifting the mat and tucking the bottom edge up, rolling until 1 cm of nori remains. Moisten the edge with water or pickled ginger liquid and finish rolling to seal.
- Cut into about six pieces with a sharp knife. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Mix vegan mayo and sriracha; top each piece with a dollop. Sprinkle panko and serve with pickled ginger and soy sauce.
Cheezy Vegan “Chicken” Quesadilla | Kid Friendly Vegan Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp grapeseed oil (optional)
- ½ package Gardein meatless chick’n strips
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 8 corn tortillas or 4 wheat tortillas
- 1 can pinto beans, mashed
- ¼ tsp salt (optional)
- ½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 cup vegan mozzarella (or other vegan cheese)
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro and 1 cup salsa to serve
Instructions
- Warm oil in a skillet, add frozen Gardein chick’n strips and chili powder, and sauté about 7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Spread mashed beans on half of each tortilla and season with salt if desired. Top with red pepper and jalapeño.
- Cut cooked chick’n into smaller strips or break apart with your hands once cooled.
- Place chick’n and vegan cheese on the bean-covered tortillas, top with the other tortillas, and transfer to a clean skillet over medium heat.
- Press with a lid and cook 3 minutes, flip, and cook another 3 minutes until golden and the cheese melts.
- Cut and serve with cilantro and salsa.