5 vegan recipes for spring that my whole family will eat
In spite of our incredibly mild winter, the start of spring coupled with Day Light Saving Time leaves me feeling like a new person. Spring brings with it infectious energy, making me excited to try new things. Add to that an opportunity to squeeze in some healthy options and you’ve got one happy momma.
After a winter of soups and stews, I’m excited to make these five recipes for and with my family. And we all know how important it is to find something everyone will eat.
(1) Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
I’m a Reese’s junkie given the opportunity. But it’s not Halloween anymore so it’s time to let go. Kind of. This vegan recipe uses 5 simple ingredients to create a snack/dessert that satisfies everyone’s sweet tooth without making moms and dads cringe at the thought of handing over candy to the kiddos.
(2) No-Bake Coconut Energy Bites
This is absolutely one of my favorite simple recipes. Quite a few times a day I find myself standing at my open pantry, wondering what the heck I could snack on and the dried beans and uncooked rice don’t seem too promising in a pinch. Enter: energy bites. These are great for a quick snack, lunch boxes, or an addition to an on-the-go snack. They’ll keep a while in the fridge and fill the need for protein and sweetness.
(3) Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
I’m obsessed with cauliflower. I grew up quite Southern, where potatoes and starch were the center of most meals. Cauliflower easily takes the spot of super starchy veggies and leaves you with a creative and satisfying alternative — they can even take the place of meat! This recipe gives you vegan substitutions and has a very mild heat that most kids (and picky parents) can go along with.
(4) 7 Layer Vegan Salad
Growing up, my mom made this great salad for basically every event — church potlucks, BBQ’s, birthday parties. The only issue was that one of the seven layers was straight mayo. Don’t lie. You ate it too. This recipe calls for tons of veggies, uses a vegan alternative as the dressing and is perfect as spring makes its entrance.
(5) Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
We have gotten really friendly with avocados in our house. What at one time was reserved for Taco Tuesdays has now found its way into pasta night and dessert. Avocados have a great texture and there is no denying the health benefits of this full-fat savory fruit so this is a great way to get some more plants into your kids’ diets. They won’t even know it. Or, have them whip this up with you for a great learning opportunity on the versatility of plants!
This story was written for CharlotteFive’s latest channel for parents in the QC, called QC Playground. Sign up for the weekly QC Playground newsletter here.
Photo credit: Randy Rivera
This story was originally published March 27, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "5 vegan recipes for spring that my whole family will eat."