100 Nutritious, Delicious Vegetarian Recipes for Picky Kids & Husbands

October 26th, 2010

If you are a vegetarian or are just trying to embrace Meatless Mondays, watch your waistline or eat a little greener, finding great meals without meat is pretty simple. Of course, that task becomes a little more complicated when picky eaters come into the mix and won’t touch those tasty greens or try anything that remotely resembles a lentil. Regardless of your reasons for seeking out vegetarian meals, these recipes will help you win the hearts and palates of even the pickiest eater and could become family favorites of kids, students and spouses alike.

Breakfast

Start the day off right with these tasty vegetarian meals.

1. Veggie Omelets. Add some healthy greens to your omelet for a great breakfast to start the day.
2. Tempeh Hash. Corned beef isn’t the only way to make a hash. This recipe will show you how to make a delicious one using tempeh as the base.
3. Oatmeal Waffles. These waffles will provide you, or your picky eaters, with the fuel to get through the day.
4. Banana Bread. This banana bread recipe is designed to be kid-friendly.
5. Quiche in Pepper Pots. These pepper pots will make it hard for anyone to resist eating this delicious and cute dish.
6. Green Smoothie. Give your kids a monster-inspired smoothie that looks gross but tastes great.
7. Vegan French Toast with Bananas. Who can resist the deliciousness of French toast? This recipe does it up without any animal products and is healthier served with fruit.
8. Oatmeal Cranberry Muffins. Check out this muffin recipe for a tasty breakfast you can eat on-the-go.
9. Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Couscous. Most people aren’t familiar with thinking of couscous as a breakfast food, but this recipe just might make it a staple for even picky eaters.
10. Potato Pancakes. Served with applesauce, these latkes are sure to please.

Snacks

These snacks are not only great for picky eaters, but are also pretty healthy to boot.

11. Kale Chips. They might look funny, but few will be able to resist the healthful and tasty appeal of these chips.
12. Hummus Dip. Make your own hummus using this recipe for a healthy dip you can serve with veggies or crackers.
13. Creamy Cucumbers. These cucumbers are designed to be a kid-friendly and healthy snack.
14. Granola. Making granola is simple when you follow this recipe and kids – not to mention picky adults – will love it.
15. Tofu Vegetable Spread. This flavorful spread for veggies or even a bagel won’t give away that’s it actually made with tofu.
16. Homemade Salsa and Chips. Chips and salsa is a classic snack, and one that can be healthier when you make it at home.
17. Fruit Salad. Try out this fruit salad recipe that’s sure to please everyone in your home.
18. Sweetcorn Fritters with Cucumber and Mango Salsa. Enjoy this fancy snack after school or anytime. While they are fried, using sunflower oil makes them a bit healthier – so you can eat them with less guilt.
19. Applesauce. Forget about the store bought kind and whip up your own healthy applesauce instead.
20. Basic Homemade Yogurt. Topped with fruit and berries, this homemade treat is a great way to feed your family.
21. Marinated Vegetables. This recipe lets you jazz up those plain old veggies and make them something special.

Lunches

Whether you’re packing a lunch for yourself or a child, these recipes offer up some great ideas.

22. Curried Fake Chicken Salad. This recipe will have you enjoying a lunchtime classic without missing the chicken for a minute.
23. Tofu Salad. Picky kids and spouses won’t mind eating tofu in this tasty lunch.
24. Taco Salad. You might not think of taco salads as a food to take on-the-go, but this recipe will show you how to do it in style and without a lick of meat.
25. White Bean Burritos. Few will be able to find fault with these awesome lunchtime burritos made with white beans instead of the standard pinto.
26. Lunch Box Pasta Salad. You can make this pasta salad more appealing to youngins by using pasta in fun shapes or colors.
27. Salad Pitas. Make eating salad more fun by putting one in a pita as this recipe suggests.
28. Nearly Raw Tahini Noodles. This recipe is perfect for the summer months when you want to avoid turning on the stove and involves ingredients that your picky eaters will even like raw.
29. Vegetarian Club Sandwich. Try out this fancy sandwich, a twist on a classic, for a vegetarian and satisfying lunch.
30. Black Bean Burrito. Prefer black beans to white? Then try this recipe for tasty burritos instead.
31. Pesto Pasta Salad with String Beans and Potatoes. This scrumptious salad is as easy as it is delicious!

Soups

Whip up a pot of these soups to have everyone asking for seconds.

32. Garden Vegetable Soup. This soup is tasty enough to entice picky eaters in your home to eat their veggies.
33. Veggie Chili. You won’t miss the meat in this excellent recipe for vegetarian chili.
34. Black Bean Soup. This black bean soup offers up an appealing trifecta: it’s tasty, healthy, and kid-friendly.
35. Pumpkin Soup. In the fall, this soup can be a great way to make the most of the flavors of the season in a way that will appeal to everyone in your family.
36. Creamy Corn Chowder. Enjoy this yummy chowder that makes use of tofu to thicken it instead of heavy creams.
37. Lentil Soup. It might not look appetizing to picky eaters, but the taste of this soup will win them over.
38. Miso Soup. This Japanese classic is perfect when paired with veggie sushi or teriyaki.
39. Potato and Leek Soup. With a comfort food taste, your family is sure to love this simple and easy-to-make soup.
40. Tomato Soup. This soup is the perfect accompaniment for a grilled cheese on a rainy day.
41. Chinese Hot and Sour Soup. Many swear by this soup when they have a cold, but it’s delicious no matter how you’re feeling.
42. Roasted Vegetable Stew. Roasting the vegetables gives this stew a great flavor that will entice even picky eaters.

Meatless Classics

These classic dishes don’t contain any meat, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be any less appealing to your family.

43. Pizza Margherita. Topped with basil and tomatoes, this pizza is simple, delicious and a real crowd-pleaser.
44. Eggplant Parmesean. Most picky eaters turn their noses up at eggplant, but this dish might make them change their minds.
45. Shish Kebabs. Kebabs don’t have to be loaded up with meat. In this recipe, you’ll learn how to make this family friendly dish with veggies and other tasty ingredients.
46. Vegetable Pot Pie. Do your kids relish the thought of having their own little pot pie for dinner? This recipe will show you how to make a great veggie version of the retro dish.
47. Spaghetti Bolognese. This recipe skips the meat but not the flavor when it comes to pulling together an Italian favorite.
48. Chinese Veggie Stir Fry. Whip up a stir fry that’s both healthy and pretty tasty using this recipe. Don’t like the veggies? Change them out for those you do.
49. Veggie Mac and Cheese. Few kids or adults will turn down a bowl of delicious mac and cheese. That’s what makes this healthier recipe for the classic so great.
50. Vegetarian Spaghetti. Create a meal your whole family can agree is delicious using this recipe for healthy and vegetarian spaghetti.
51. Cabbage Rolls. While these usually contain meat, this recipe shows that they can be just as good, and maybe even a little healthier, without.
52. Pasta Florentine. Paired with garlic bread or a veggie, this Italian dish is sure to please. It’s also vegan!

Main Courses

These main courses are vegetarian and pretty healthy, but neither of those factors will have your family turning up their noses at them, as they also offer up some delicious flavors.

53. Broccoli and Red Pepper Frittata. Whether for brunch, lunch or dinner, this dish is a fabulous way to get some vegetables into a picky eater’s diet.
54. Polenta Chips with Roasted Vegetables and Parmesan. Made to appeal to kids, this recipe works as a snack or a main dish.
55. Quick Chickpea Casserole with Spinach and Carrots. Chickpeas and potatoes give this casserole a rich, irresistible taste.
56. Broccoli and Rice Casserole. Even if your family doesn’t love broccoli, they’ll likely enjoy this dish as a main or as a side.
57. Tomato Tart. Puff pastry and delicious cheese make this dish a hit with just about anyone who has taste buds.
58. Spaghetti Squash with Veggies and Feta. This squash is a master of disguise and your family might not even know they’re eating it and not pasta.
59. Wild Mushroom risotto. With this recipe, you’ll convert even the most adamant fungiphobes into mushroom maniacs.
60. Butternut Squash Pizza. Squash, when in season, makes an excellent and healthy topper for pizza.
61. Vegetable Shepherd’s pie. A twist on a classic, this entree has flavor in spades.
62. Stewed Vegetable Gratin. Topped with a baguette, it’s hard to find something disagreeable about this dish.

Sides

Serve these sides alongside a main course to double up on vegetable goodness.

63. Stuffed Peppers. While picky eaters may not love peppers on their own, when stuffed with tomatoes, brown rice, corn, beans and cheese they become a delectable treat.
64. Mashed Sweet Potatoes. These root veggies can be enjoyed anytime, and the sweet, buttery taste of this recipe is sure to make them a hit.
65. Confetti Quinoa. Try out a great grain in this recipe, or substitute brown rice or couscous instead.
66. Spinach and Strawberry Salad. This salad is easy to make, delicious and provides a great accompaniment to any summer meal.
67. Broccoli Rabe with Cannelini Beans. Broccoli and beans work well together in this simple side.
68. Roasted Butternut Squash. During the fall, this dish is a quick way to whip up a healthy side for your family.
69. Herbed Potatoes. This flexible recipe will let you dress up those plain potatoes with a little pizazz provided by some fresh herbs.
70. Pearl Couscous with Olives and Roasted Tomatoes. Best in summer when tomatoes are at their peak, this dish is a flavorful treat for lunch, dinner or a backyard picnic.
71. Spinach, Apple and Walnut Salad. The addition of apples to this salad makes it appeal more to those who have pickier tastes.
72. Spinach Casserole. This simple casserole will have your family asking for seconds, and the spinach is a healthy treat that will have you complying.

Meat Substitutes

These recipes offer up some delicious ways to eat meat dishes without the meat.

73. Chickpea Burgers. The rich, nutty flavor of chickpeas is the perfect replacement for meat in this dish.
74. Tofu Nuggets. Your kids will love chowing down on these veggie alternatives to chicken nuggets.
75. Vegetarian Sloppy Joes. Enjoy this meaty dish without the meat by trying out this recipe instead.
76. Red Lentil Burgers. Try out one of these burgers the next time you cook out for a tasty alternative to traditional patties.
77. Mock Beef Stroganoff. Where’s the beef? Nowhere in this dish, but you won’t mind as it still has a great flavor.
78. Seitan and Broccolini with Clementine Teriyaki. Your family won’t miss the meat in this veggie take on a stir-fry.
79. Notso Buco with Saffron Rosemary Risotto. This recipe explains how to make a classic osso buco using only vegetarian ingredients.
80. Spicy Italian Vegetarian Sausages. Make your own sausages without any meat in sight using this great recipe.
81. Quick and Easy Corndogs. These corndogs are a much healthier alternative to the traditional kind.
82. Seitan Ribs. You wouldn’t really think of ribs as something you can fake without real meat, but this recipe proves that you can.

Noodles and Pasta

If your family are fans of pasta, these recipes showcase a few great ways to prepare it.

83. Veggie Lasagna. This lasagna is full of veggies, including mushrooms, onions, broccoli, carrots and peppers. Better yet, your family won’t even mind because it’s so good.
84. Pasta with Homemade Tomato Sauce. Make your own sauce to turn boring old pasta into something special.
85. Pasta Primavera. This pasta makes spring veggies seem appetizing to just about anyone.
86. Rigatoni with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Eggplant. While the description might not sound great to those who aren’t exactly adventurous eaters, the flavors of this dish will win them over.
87. Baked Ziti Casserole. You can’t go wrong with a classic baked ziti when it comes to pleasing your family.
88. Tricolor Tomato Ravioli. Because it uses frozen, pre-made ravioli, this recipe is a snap to make.

South of the Border

Enjoy a tasty Mexican-inspired (or Cuban, as the case may be) meal with your family using these recipes.

89. Black Bean Zucchini Quesadillas. This recipe makes use of beans and zucchini as quesadilla fillers, creating a healthier meal for your family.
90. Veggie Fajitas. Check out this recipe for tasty marinated fajitas without the meat.
91. Vegetarian Tacos with Goat Cheese. Your family can enjoy a fun taco night without any meat by substituting tofu using this recipe.
92. Kitchen Sink Quesadillas. This recipe has you throw just about everything but the kitchen sink into healthy, delicious quesadillas.
93. Cuban Black Beans and Rice. This simple dish is a great crowd pleaser and will leave you leftovers for lunch.
94. Empanadas. These vegetarian empanadas are a great way to get kids to eat veggies in a fun, hand-held format.

Asian-Inspired Dishes

These dishes are just a few ways to eat foods from Thailand, China, Japan and more right at home and while still pleasing the tastes of picky eaters.

95. Sesame Noodles. Simple noodles with peanut butter and sesame seeds make this dish a winner with picky eaters.
96. Thai Spiced Tofu. Marinate your tofu for this recipe to give it a little something more.
97. Pad Thai. A staple of Thai restaurants, learn how to make this dish at home the vegetarian way using this recipe.
98. Stir-fried Vegetables with Cashews. This basic stir-fry is healthy and delicious.
99. Mushroom Fried Rice. You won’t miss the shrimp fried rice when you have this delicious Chinese classic.
100. Sweet Potato Curry. The mild flavors of this curry will ensure that your whole family can enjoy it.

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