If veggie burgers, soy milk, and tofu are your vegetarian child's favorite foods, you're in luck. Most major grocery store chains now stock these items, which have risen in popularity, even among non-vegetarian eaters. But, unless you live close to a natural-foods market, finding specialty items can be difficult. While many vegetarian-friendly "kid favorites," such as cookies, snack bars, or frozen treats, are relatively easy to find, veg-substitutes for other popular items, like mac-and-cheese or chicken nuggets, aren't as easy to come by. Mail-order catalogs are a convenient and easy way to obtain products you can't find close to home. A few extra dollars for shipping is well worth your child's joy, and the peace of mind you'll have knowing you've made healthy choices which don't contribute to animal suffering.
The following popular kids' items can be ordered through online catalogs - which saves both paper and time! For print catalogs, check each company's website to see if one is available to be mailed to your home.
Gelatin-free Gummy Snacks
Besides containing animal-based gelatin, most popular brand kids' fruit snacks contain high amounts of corn syrup and sugar. Instead, try Planet Harmony Fruit Bears. They're vegan, naturally sweetened, and kids love them. Order 12 3oz. packages for $16.74 at MotherNature.com.
Veggie "Chick" Nuggets
A fast-food favorite of non-vegetarian children, offer your veggie child a fun, meatless alternative to chicken nuggets. A 10.5 oz. package of Veg Chicken Nuggets, which can be microwaved or baked (and stored for up to one year), can be purchased for $3.95 at
VegieWorld.com.
Veggie Dogs
Childhood just wouldn't be the same without hot dogs. These meat-free dogs are perfect for buns, or slicing and stacking next to a puddle of ketchup on your child's plate. Worthington's Veja-Links are meatless, pre-cooked, and come in 1.19Lb cans for $3.90. Order at
VegetarianStore.com.
Mac and ChReese
Dairy-free and delicious, you can order mac and cheese by the box, or purchase bulk powder and add it to your own noodles (or potatoes or vegetables or any dish you'd like!). Boxes vary in price, starting at $1.50, and a bulk package (with the equivalent of about 15 powder packets) costs $7.20. Be sure to check out the entire selection at Road's End Organics.
Dairy-Free Parmesan Cheese
Kids love to sprinkle a little parmesan on pasta, pizza, or veggies. This dairy-free, natural alternative tastes almost identical to the "real" thing. A 4oz. shaker bottle can be purchased for $2.99 through
Pangea.
Popsicle Maker
Save money and cut down on sugar when you make your own frozen desserts for your kids. They'll love picking out juices to help make their own popsicles! This plastic mold, which makes eight, tiered-layer frozen treats, comes with 50 wooden sticks and costs $15.95. Order the Ice Pop Maker from
The Home Marketplace.
Gelatin-Free Vitamins
Gelatin-free vitamins for vegetarian children can be hard to find and hard to swallow. Serve them in the form of "jelly beans" and you can be sure children will be enthusiastic about taking them. Rhino Beanie Vites are free of preservatives, flavors, colors, and gelatin (but are lightly polished with beeswax). Order 35 days worth (70 beans) for $6.02 from
Vitacost.com.
Coloring Books and Games
Get your vegetarian children excited about the foods which make up a large part of their diets - fruits and vegetables! Yummy Designs has games, coloring books, t-shirts, and balloons celebrating healthy eating. You'll also find lesson and activity plans for groups of veggie kids! Visit Yummy Designs to see the complete selection.
Vegetarian Kids' Books
All vegetarian children should have copies of these books, which will help promote self-esteem and explain the benefits of vegetarianism. Herb the Vegetarian Dragon is about a dragon who refuses to eat meat. Victor the Vegetarian is the story of a farm boy who decides to become vegetarian because of his love for animals. Visit Dragonherb.com or Veganbooks to order.
Vegetarian Kids' Clothing
Let your kids show the world they're proud to be vegetarians with fun "message" t-shirts.
"Veggie Kid," "Bunny Hugger," "Please Don't Eat the Animals," and "Veggie Chick," are a few of the selections available at
AnimalRightStuff.com
--Rebecca Ortinau is the mother of a 6-year-old vegetarian daughter and editor/columnist for an arts-and-crafts magazine publishing company outside Chicago.
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