In a perfect world, my kids would be eating alfalfa sprout and tofu sandwiches with a side of Brussels sprouts for dinner, but here in the real world, my kids are real human kids who want the standard kid foods, and who look at a block of tofu as if it were an alien invader. And these are kids who were raised from birth in a vegetarian/vegan household. I know that some prepackaged vegetarian foods can be pricey, but we offset the cost by never (I mean N-E-V-E-R) eating out at fast food restaurants. A box of four Boca Burgers costs around $3.50 here in Missouri, but how much did your last bag of anything from any restaurant anywhere cost you? More than double that amount, I'd wager. And the health factor difference hardly even requires mentioning.When it comes to vegetarian kid food, the main test any meal must pass is, will kids eat it?. Here are my top 5 picks for vegetarian kid meals that pass the test with flying colors:
1. Boca Burgers - Kids love these barbecued on the grill. And they don't fall through into the coals!
2. Annie's Organic Mac & Cheese - Every kid loves macaroni and cheese. It's true that a box of cheapo mac & cheese at the grocery store costs 50 cents or so, but you might as well feed your kid white glue and sawdust. Annie's organic Mac & Cheese only costs about $2.00 a box. Don't you think an extra buck and a half is a small price to pay for peace of mind. It's worth it!
3. Yves Tofu Dogs - Yves tofu dogs are about the only soy-based dogs that are both vegan (not even an egg yolk in these!), and REALLY TASTY! There are a lot of brands of veggie dogs out there that are simply unpalatable - yech. Yves tofu dogs are not one of them. They the best of the best, and kids like them!
4. Bulgur Tacos - Here's a recipe for Bulgur Tacos that can't be beat, and they're cheap to make! Serves 6 (depending on the appetites at your table).
3/4 cup raw bulgur
1 tablespoon olive oil
one medium onion, finely chopped
one small green bell pepper, diced
two cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato puree
2 teaspoons chili powder
12 taco shells
Combine the bulgur with 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
Heat the oil in a skillet. Saute the onion for 2 to 3 minutes or until translucent. Add the bell pepper and garlic, and saute until all are golden (about another 5 minutes).
When the bulgur is done, transfer it to the skillet and add the tomato puree and chili powder. Cook until mixture is well blended.
Traditionally, you would present the taco mixture in a bowl alongside lettuce, diced tomatoes, etc, and allow everyone to build their own tacos. And that's OK... But I have found that filling the shells (with just the bulgur mixture, not the cold fixings) and heating them in the oven on a cookie sheet for a few minutes softens the shells so that they are not so crumbly. For non-vegans, this is also the time to add shredded cheese, so it can get all gooey-melty in the oven.
5. Monster Pizza - Use your favorite homemade pizza recipe. Slice your choice of veggies. Let your kids create their own monster face! This is one of those things you see on the Internet and think, "Well, that's neat, but my kid will just think it's stupid"... But my son (age 6 at the time we first tried monster pizza night) thought this was the coolest thing ever.
A Note About Rennet
and Enzymes in Cheese
I think it’s important to know what you’re eating. A little education never hurt anybody, right? If you’re curious about how milk becomes cheese, read on:
Q: What are enzymes and how are they used to make cheese?
A: In order for milk to coagulate (i.e. separate into curds and whey) and eventually become cheese, enzymes are added to break down the proteins that keep milk a liquid.
Q: What are rennet, rennin, and chymosin?
A: Take a deep breath. According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary rennet is "the lining membrane of the fourth stomach of the calf (and/or) a preparation or extract of the rennet membrane, used to curdle milk, as in making cheese…." In layman’s terms, rennet is essentially a broad term used to describe any enzyme used to coagulate milk, and rennin and chymosin are enzymes found in rennet.
Q: How many different types of enzymes are used to make cheese?
A: Animal, vegetable, microbial and genetically engineered rennet can all be used in cheese making.
Q: Is the use of rennet in cheese making controversial?
A: Yes. Because it’s an animal by-product, rennet sparks discussions on the issues of animal rights, vegetarianism, bioengineering, etc.
As you might guess, rennet and animal enzymes are used in every cheap cheese out there, but be aware that they are also used in high end imported and gourmet cheeses all over the world. Fortunately, there are some brands who choose not to use animal-based enzymes in their cheese. And yes, they are more expensive than Kraft. We're not a wealthy family, so this was a tough decision for us, but there is simply no way around it - if you are eating cheese with rennet or animal enzymes in it, you are not a vegetarian. You have to put your money where your ethics are.
NOTE: The simplest and cheapest solution to the rennet/enzymes dilemma is to become vegan and just cut cheese out of your diet altogether. My husband and I are vegan, but our children are not. They are vegetarian (someday, I'll write a whole post about that issue). So for our children, we made the decision to purchase rennet-free cheese regardless of the price. Here is a link to a webpage that lists a variety of rennet-free brands and styles of cheese. Many of these brands are available at your local grocery store, such as Sargento, Land of Lakes and Cabot, so you won't have to break the bank at a health food store to get your hands on them.
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