Fun Kid Foods

I don't want you to get the impression that every meal that we eat in our home is meticulously constructed with cute themes...more likely, it's hummus slathered quickly onto a piece of bread, then thrown onto a paper plate. However...we do like to have a little fun around here!

Mermaid

Too much? I made these for the kids when we were in the middle of our week of Mermaid activities in the spring. I got the idea from Ziggety Zoom, a website with kids' activities. I cut a banana into sections for the head and body plus pieces for the arms. I used Daiya shreds for her hair, chocolate chips for the eyes, a piece of strawberry for her mouth, and flattened freeze-dried cherries for her bikini top. I used cut up kiwi for the scales and star fruit for her flippers, with a couple of star fruit slices on the side. I think this mermaid should be enjoyed by all ages, if you are tempted.

Mock Tuna Schooner

My kids - my oldest, in particular, love those creative food idea magazines you see in the check-out aisle at Wal-Mart and grocery stores. My mom is always buying them for us, and they love to look through them and dream about what "fun meal" we're going to have next. Although very little in the books is naturally vegan, everything is very easily adapted. I love that my kids see the pictures in the books and automatically think it's the vegan alternative being used. I got the idea for this sailboat from Taste of Home Fun Food.

I lightly toasted a Food for Life Gluten Free Multi-Seed English Muffin (and spread some Earth Balance on the warmed muffin to help soften it up a bit). Layered romaine with the Chickpea Salad recipe I use and love and added Guiltless Gourmet Baked Chips for sails. Next time I wouldn't use the GF English Muffins; they're too thick and heavy for the kids. I had mine with bread, and it was better. And if you haven't tried this type of Chickpea Salad recipe, it's really, really good.

I remembered that there was a Vegan Goldfish Crackers recipe at Vegan Lunchbox that I've always meant to try, so this was the perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately, I don't have a tiny fish cookie cutter, so it took a long time to cut out enough fish for their lunch. The remaining dough were cut into hearts, which was much easier (and cuter). I think I will go ahead and order the fish cookie cutter because...I think I've mentioned before how big of a place Goldfish Crackers are in the lives of American child activities.

We did have a large fish cookie cutter, about the size of my palm, so we also made a few big fish.

Awhile back, my sister Cary orchestrated a little "Silly Lunch" for her kids and mine. It included this Piggie, made with strawberry So Delicious, bananas, strawberries, and chocolate chips. To see the rest of our fun, vegan meal (including a veggie/pretzel scooter, a silly car watermelon, and silly (or was it scary?) nacho plate, visit Go Team Murphy.