Feeding vegetarian teens
Poppy from our 2023 Teen Advisory Board has put these plant-based cookbooks through their paces and thinks they pass the test!
Running out of meal ideas for the never-ending hunger of a teen? Below are six delicious vegetarian dinners and snacks from three plant-based cookbooks, approved by a teenager for teenagers. They provide perfect energy boosting for studying, smile-making on test days or even just comfort food when necessary.
David Frenkiel and Louise Vindahl write the popular Green Kitchen cookbook series. Their latest release Green Kitchen Quick + Slow contains a mix of timesaving and more indulgent recipes. I am happy to report their Jam Crumble Bar with buckwheat is excellent to take to school in a lunchbox or for an after-school study snack. Their Orange Roasted Brussels Sprout and Almond warm salad with a mix of shaved raw and oven-roasted sprouts is a delicious dinner all on its own or a tasty side. I am firmly on Team Sprout but even for me, brussels sprouts have never tasted so good!
Alice Zaslavsky’s The Joy of Better Cooking is another new release with easy recipes to try. Her ANZAC Bikkies are better than anyone else’s, so feel free to have them all year round! Her Pluffins turn a simple muffin into something so much better by topping the batter with a halved plum and a sprinkling of almond flakes. My favourite savory snack, Free-for-all Fritters, cleverly use just besan flour as the binding agent. They are low-cost, vegan, and easy to make ahead. They are ideal to spruce up a cheese toastie or to have as part of a grain bowl.
Finally, an old favourite, Jamie Oliver’s Veg has one of my all-time beloved dinners. His Greens Mac ‘n Cheese adds leek, spinach and broccoli for a welcome twist to the cheesy pasta goodness that we all know and love. It’s comforting in cold weather, perfect with a tossed side salad, and I can say it’s excellent before a long night of studying.
