Vegetarian baby shower food
How to Throw the Perfect Vegan Baby Shower | Parents
Planning a baby shower—or any party—can be stressful, but we’ll show you how to make throwing the perfect vegan baby shower easy! Use these tips and tricks to create a compassionate party for a special mother-to-be and her bundle of joy.
DecorationsUse streamers, flowers, banners, and more! Opt for some DIY decorations if you’re feeling crafty, or purchase gift set centerpieces that the mother-to-be can use later—like this adorable onesie bouquet from Etsy. Want to assemble gift bags for your guests? Fill them with cruelty-free lotion, vegan candy (such as Cocomels caramels), and a vegan, cruelty-free candle.
FoodView this post on Instagram
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Food is the best part of any party, so you’ll want to provide a tasty and compassionate spread that everyone will enjoy. First, decide on whether you’d like to make the food yourself. If so, check out these finger food recipes from PETA. If you’d rather order the food, call or visit your grocery store to see if you can request a vegan meal or cake for your party, or join a local vegan Facebook group and ask if someone could recommend a vegan restaurant to order from. Some grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, have an array of delicious premade vegan foods that are great for parties—including cakes! Here are some ideas for vegan party foods to serve at the shower:
Wraps, sandwiches, and pinwheels are always a good idea.
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This baby carriage made out of fruit would be an adorable addition.
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Don’t forget the cake!
GamesView this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Little Vegan & Co Kitchen (@thelittleveganandco)
From baby-themed Mad Libs to the “don’t get caught saying ‘baby'” diaper-pin collecting game, there are many tried and true shower games that guests are sure to enjoy. You can even “veganize” the the “dirty diaper” game by using Go Max Go or other dairy-free chocolate bars or use vegan baby food for the “guess the flavor” baby food game. Alternatively, you can supply fabric paint and have everyone decorate a plain onesie for the new baby.
Help the mother-to-be create a baby shower registry of only cruelty-free and vegan items to ensure that guests don’t inadvertently purchase cruel products. You can even add a note to the shower invitations reminding guests that the party is cruelty-free and vegan and that the soon-to-be mom doesn’t use any products—such as clothing, diapers, or bath products—that harm animals.
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*****
The Cutest Vegan Onesies!
My Baby Shower Menu – Oh She Glows
Even though the mama-to-be doesn’t traditionally do a lot of baby shower prep, I really wanted to have my hand in the shower menu planning. It is me, after all. How could I resist? I love feeding people! Plus, it’s really hard to find good vegan catering out there.
My goal was to come up with a few freezer-friendly recipes I could make the week in advance and then do additional recipe prep the day before and the morning of the shower with my mom and sister. We supplemented my menu with a few catering items from Whole Foods courtesy of my mom. The cupcakes + cake were generously donated by Kelly’s XO Bake Shoppe – an award-winning gluten-free and vegan bakery in Burlington, Ontario. I contacted them to place my order about a month ago and they said they are huge fans of the blog and cookbook and wanted to donate the cupcakes as a baby shower gift! If that wasn’t enough, they surprised me Sunday morning with extra goodies – a pink 3-layer cake, a lovely note, and a Kelly’s Bake Shoppe tee. I screamed when I opened the extra box and saw the stunning pink rosette cake. Thank you to Kelly, Erinn, and the entire team at Kelly’s Bake Shoppe for making my day extra special. You really went above and beyond!
So as you can see, the spread of food that we all enjoyed was a group effort and I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support! We had so many nice comments about the food from guests, so it really made the day extra special for me.
I’d like to share the menu in case you are looking for ideas for your own vegan event. The hardest part for me is always the menu planning stage, so hopefully this sparks a few ideas and saves you some time. It probably goes without saying, but the recipes below would be great for all kinds of summer events, not just baby showers.
Here’s how my planning process began…
A few months ago, I created a Google document called “shower menu” that I used to keep track of my menu ideas. I’m all about the Google docs and I have tons of folders and documents created in there to keep me organized (such as a nursery to-do list and many other business/blog docs).
When the week before the shower approached, I added a day-by-day breakdown of things I needed to prepare each day and groceries I needed to buy. I had to cut a few menu items because I ran out of time, but we still had more than enough food so it all worked out. As I completed tasks, I would strike-though the item in my Google doc so I knew it was taken care of.
This worked really well and kept me sane (well, relatively speaking)!
Side note – I wish I snapped more pictures of the food to share with you in this post, but I totally ran out of time and was busy chatting up guests! My original plan was to have pretty pictures of each dish, but that didn’t quite happen. Oh well!
Appetizers + main dishes:
Veggies + crackers hummus platter
We made this the morning of the shower so the veggies were nice and fresh. It consisted of sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, grape tomatoes, carrot sticks, Mary’s Crackers, and hummus. Always a crowd pleaser!
The Best Shredded Kale Salad
People go crazy over this kale salad! We made a double batch and there was only a tiny amount leftover at the end of the shower. I had several comments from people saying they never knew kale could taste so good. Check out the feedback on the original recipe post too – it’s probably the most praised salad on the blog over the years.
Tip: The dressing is a bit garlic-y so you might want to cut it down by half for social events. I mixed the kale with the dressing about 1 hour before the shower began so it had a bit of time to marinate.
Cheesy Pesto Zucchini Noodles
I hope to post this easy summer recipe to my blog this summer because it was such a hit at the shower! And it’s no-bake too which is perfect for our kitchen reno! There wasn’t a noodle left in the bowl at the end of the shower and I think it was one of my best pestos yet. Pesto freezes well, so I made a double batch a week before the shower and froze it. I thawed it in the fridge a day before the shower. Then on the day of the shower all I had to do was spiralize around 4 zucchini (using this spiralizer) and mix it all up. I will link to the recipe here when it’s posted!
Crowd-Pleasing Tex Mex Casserole
This recipe is one of my favourite entrees from The Oh She Glows Cookbook (see page 149).
It freezes well, so I knew it would help save time. I made it the week before the shower and froze it in an extra large oven/freezer-safe glass dish with a layer of tin foil pressed tightly on top of the casserole to prevent freezer burn. Notes: I skipped the oven cooking because I knew I would be cooking it the day of the shower. I let the skillet mixture cool (mostly) before adding it into the container. I also waited to add the corn chips until the day of the shower so they didn’t get soggy. A day or so before the shower I thawed the casserole in the fridge. It was still a bit frozen when I took it out to cook it so I would also suggest thawing it on the counter for an hour as well. When the shower began I removed the tin foil, added the crumbled corn chips on top, and popped it in the oven at 350F for about 30 minutes. Easy! Serve it with sliced avocado, cashew sour cream, sliced green onion, salsa, etc. It’s always a hit! This casserole would also be great if some of you are looking for freezer-friendly meals.
I plan on making a couple batches before the baby arrives.
Samosas with mango chutney (catering from Whole foods)
Seasonal fruit platter (catering from Whole Foods)
Vegetarian Mediterranean platter (catering from Whole foods)
A couple guests offered to contribute vegan grain salads, so we had those salad options too!
Dessert:
Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Chia Seed Jam
[shown in photo above] These are one of my favourite cookies from the blog and they have a pink/red filling to boot so I knew they would fit in well with the pink colour scheme. For this batch, I used my raspberry chia seed jam (you can easily modify this recipe to make it with raspberries). I made one batch – 20 cookies – but next time I would double the recipe as they went FAST and we ran out! I baked the cookies about 5 days before the event and cooled + froze the cookies in zip baggies which were then sealed in freezer bags to ensure freshness.
I thawed them the morning of the event on the counter. No fuss the day of at all!
Chocolate hostess cupcakes with my homemade pink frosting
As I mentioned, these were a gift from Kelly’s XO Bake Shoppe. I ordered 2 dozen of their vegan + GF hostess cupcakes (without the ganache topping) and then I piped on my own homemade pink frosting just before the shower.
3-layer chocolate cake
A surprise cake from Kelly’s Bake Shoppe! See photos – it’s a show stopper!
Dark chocolate covered strawberries
Another easy treat that always goes fast. To make these, I simply dipped fresh strawberries in melted dark chocolate and chilled them in the fridge. I did this the day before the event. once the chocolate firmed up, I wrapped the plate with wrap and took them out of the fridge just before the party.
Vegan Key Lime Pie
A family member contributed this tasty dessert! So yummy.
Drinks:
Homemade pink lemonade
I didn’t use an exact recipe so I’m afraid I don’t have one to share, but I used a mix of fresh lemon juice (juiced around 20 lemons – thanks Kristi!), a homemade sugar syrup, 100% cranberry juice, and Pellegrino/water to make about 5 litres of lemonade.
Pellegrino
White wine
Rosé wine
Non-alcoholic all-natural sparkling pink cocktail for the pregnant ladies (Les Mouts de Pomme brand from Whole Foods)
The Shower Favours:
Ultimate Nutty granola Clusters
Last but not least, my homemade baby shower favours! I made my favourite granola (the Ultimate Nutty Granola Clusters from the cookbook, see page 31) a week in advance and froze it in freezer bags. I made a triple batch which made enough for around 22 small mason jars (I think they were no more than 250ml). A special thanks to my mom for writing all the tags and to my mom and sister Kristi for helping me package them up! Everyone went crazy for these favours and I really loved how they turned out.
I think this favour idea is a great option if you want to make something in advance and not have to worry about it in the days leading up to the shower! Heck, it would even make a great wedding shower favour or other event favour. I bought the fabric from Fabricland and cut out the circles a week before so everything was ready to assemble a few days before the shower. The white circle tags are from Michaels and the mason jars are from Canadian Tire.
Well, that’s the menu in a nutshell!
I hope this menu helps inspire your own event or just gives you a few more recipe ideas to incorporate into your summer plans.
Vegetarian recipes for children
The topic of the article will be a balanced and proper nutrition of a vegetarian child.
If your family is a vegetarian, then the main question for you may be: "Is my child getting all the nutrients he needs for growth and development?" And in general, are children and vegetarianism compatible? How to make a diet for a child?
Nutritionists advise caring mothers in families that eat only vegetarian food to always have in the kitchen:
- Nuts
- Beans
- Eggs
- Soybeans
- Tofu
These products will provide the child with the necessary protein and micronutrients.
It is also necessary to include fruits, vegetables, natural fresh juices in the child's diet.
And now let's move on to more specific "dishes". Here are some simple recipes that both your child and you may enjoy.
Applesauce
Ingredients:
- 2 small red apples
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- a couple pinches of cinnamon
Preparation:
Peel the apples, cut them into slices, remove the core.
Place apples and lemon juice in a blender. Grind until the mass becomes homogeneous.
Pour the resulting puree into a mug, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. nine0004
Yogurt “ice cream”
This ice cream can be made “in between times” when you have a free minute in the kitchen (for example, you are waiting for a dish to finish cooking). By the way, about saving time spent on cooking, you can read a separate article with six tips: Quick Cooking for Moms.
Ingredients:
Yogurt (children's favorite flavor)
Preparation:
Divide the yogurt into ice cube trays. nine0027 Cover the molds with plastic wrap.
Insert a toothpick into the center of each cube (straight through the polyethylene).
Put in the freezer for a couple of hours.
Vegetarian pizza
I like this express recipe for its simplicity and the fact that in 10 minutes a child can prepare a full-fledged hot breakfast, taking into account his preferences when forming the “filling”.
Ingredients:
- Roll (medium), cut in half lengthwise. As an option, pita bread or even a loaf is suitable. nine0012
- Tomato sauce
- Mozzarella cheese (or any other)
- Stuffing (anything, get creative)
- Seasonings (pepper, basil)
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C.
Spread the tomato sauce on both halves of the roll.
Sprinkle a layer of grated cheese over the tomato sauce.
Add layers of your favorite toppings, seasonings.
That's it, future pizzas are ready! It remains to put them in the oven and bake for 6-7 minutes. The cheese should melt and brown - this will be the signal to get "pizzas". nine0004
Banana Peanut Sandwich
Great alternative to veggie sandwiches.
Ingredients:
- 1 small banana
- Peanut butter
- 2 slices of bread (for maximum benefit, you can opt for whole grain bread or special calcium fortified bread)
Preparation:
Spread peanut butter on slices of bread.
Slice the banana and place the banana slices on top of the peanut butter on one of the slices of bread. nine0027 Top with another slice of bread, peanut butter side down.
Alternatively, you can replace the bananas with raspberries, strawberries or other berries/fruits.
French toast
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sliced bananas (about 2 large)
- 3 cups soy milk
- 1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 slices of bread
- Maple (or any other) syrup
Preparation:
Mix bananas, soy milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a blender.
Pour the resulting mass into a dish (more convenient - with a wide bottom).
Dip the bread in the mixture and pan fry until golden brown. To prevent the bread from sticking, grease the pan with oil.
Serve with syrup.
what to do when it's time to go to kindergarten
vegetarian journal Russia's first journal about vegetarianism nine0004
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Vegetarian children: what to do when it's time to go to kindergarten
Whether or not to be a vegetarian for a child is a topic for a separate discussion. Those who answered yes to this question for themselves or give the child the right to choose will have a difficult decision to make. Which kindergarten to send the child to and how to protect him from harmful products, because kindergarten and vegetarian food are not very compatible, and you can’t bring your own food. Even if you were allowed to bring lunch with you, there will still be a “kind soul” who will offer the child, under various pretexts, to eat a cutlet or sausage.
And if a child at the age of 6 with already formed eating habits can fight back such an onslaught (and that depends on the character), then at the age of 3-4 it is almost unrealistic. For example, my son, who refused meat at the age of 4 himself (I am a supporter of not limiting, but giving the little man the opportunity to choose), will never give up sausage or sausage, which is much more harmful than ordinary meat (and all because he tried them once when I was not around). What can we say about food, where the meat is diligently disguised. nine0161
So what should parents do who dismissed the option of a nanny or sitting with grandparents (it doesn’t matter, because of the lack of opportunity or desire to adapt the child to society)?
First, let's look at alternative options for the state kindergarten.
- The easiest answer to this question is a vegetarian kindergarten. I tried to find such kindergartens in 20 cities and I can say that in each of them there is some kind of solution.
If this is not a large kindergarten or a children's center, then there are alternative options - home kindergartens. Of the pluses - you, for sure, can be calm about the child's nutrition: they will not feed him meat or sausages for sure. Of the minuses, it is not the fact that a vegetarian kindergarten is good from other points of view, and home kindergartens cannot always be trusted. Read reviews and decide for yourself. Another disadvantage is that not everyone can afford the monthly payment. nine0171 2. Non-state kindergarten, where you can agree on meals (the last moment is key, because not everywhere, despite the commercial basis, this is possible). It was on this option, guided by the recommendations, that I stopped, because not only nutrition is important for me, but also the quality of education. In the garden where my son goes, the children themselves choose what they eat, they are not forced. That is, they are not forced at all, because to persuade is also partly to force. As a result, my child is happy, does not eat meat, but eats vegetables, fruits and side dishes with pleasure.
Surely, in your city there is a similar garden. Of the minuses, of course, finances. Private kindergartens are additional expenses that not everyone can afford. nine0171 3. A community of vegetarian moms and a self-organized mini-kindergarten. If the first options do not suit you for some reason, then there is another way for active and courageous mothers. You are clearly not alone in your problem, on all forums to the question: "would you be interested in sending your child to a vegetarian kindergarten" there is always a flurry of applicants. Therefore, if you cannot choose the appropriate option, then you can create it yourself or with a group of interested mothers, and even earn some money. Of the minuses - not everyone is ready to carry out such work in order to resolve the issue with the child's kindergarten and a high degree of responsibility. Although it is not necessary to lead this group, you can simply send the child there. Take care of medical safety only. nine0012
If all of the above is not for you and the only possible solution is a state kindergarten, you should not let everything take its course and give up.
- There are fewer options to arrange to bring your own food here, but you can still try. If you can choose a kindergarten, then read the reviews, find the most loyal or groups with a non-standard trip. Despite the fact that most kindergartens will refuse you, you may find the right one. It is necessary to negotiate not only with the head, but also with the teacher, and with the nanny, who is directly responsible for feeding the children, because usually it is they who violate all requests and agreements. It will be much easier to conduct a dialogue if your views are confirmed by medical indications and there is a certificate from a doctor, for example, that the child is allergic. Be friendly, but firmly argue your position. If you find out that, contrary to your prohibition, they tried to feed the child with meat, do not take it as a failure and disaster, talk again. nine0012
- If you have a free work schedule, you can be replaced by a grandmother or a kindergarten you need to adapt the baby to society, then agree on a part-time day and pick up the child before lunch.
As a rule, meat products are not served for breakfast in kindergartens, and if you do not adhere to a vegan diet, then the first meal that is not suitable for you is lunch. At this point, the child's need for communication and activities will be satisfied, and the problem of food will be exhausted by itself. - Another variation of the second way, but here it is important not only to have time or a grandmother, but also the territorial principle: you can simply take the child for lunch and return to the group. This is what my friend does, who has a husband's job, a kindergarten and a house not far away. They agreed with the manager and every day, going home for lunch, dad picks up the child and takes him back on the way to the office. nine0012
- Are you alone in your views? Create a community of like-minded parents in a kindergarten or group. This will allow for greater understanding. If you remember, the first refusals of parents from vaccinations caused a storm of emotions, persuasion, and even unauthorized actions of doctors.
Now this is perceived as something normal and the opinion of parents on this issue is respected, even at the legislative level. Perhaps soon it will be the same with vegetarian food, if we talk about it! nine0174
Anna Vasilyeva, psychologist, vegan:
Unfortunately, our society is not yet sufficiently loyal to vegetarianism. This is especially true for small cities or towns far from the capital: of course, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, this is easier. Although, if we are talking about children's vegetarianism, then the attitude towards it is sharply negative in the "advanced" megacities. Prioritize and make a decision. In the case of public kindergartens, where you do not have such freedom as in commercial ones, consider a few points. It is important for a child to feel part of society, and even if you managed to agree on bringing food with you, it is important that the baby does not sit at a separate table and does not feel like an outcast. They will still try to feed the child with meat or sausage, if not explicitly, so finely chopped into soup in order to save him from "sectarian parents." It is difficult to protect yourself from the second, except by referring to medical indications. In the first case, educate awareness in a small person, instill food habits and explain why you eat one thing with him and not eat another. A child who is simply forbidden by his parents is more likely to agree to eat a sausage than one who understands why there is no meat in his diet. In any case, be patient, write down your priorities, make the right decision and follow it. nine0161
Olga Sahakyan
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