Vegan Kid-Friendly Recipes: Baked Tofu Nuggets

Much of my focus lately has been on creating recipes for children, which is inspired by my niece and nephew who are the light of my life. I have always found it frustrating that the kids' meals at many restaurants consist of the same things, macaroni and cheese, hot dog, hamburger, and the ever popular chicken fingers; a menu full of saturated fat and cholesterol and lacking in nutrients. This is what we choose to feed our children?! Eating large quantities of animal foods negatively affects our health and can be even more devastating on a young body. Harmful effects of animal products aside, young bodies need the vitamins and nutrients in plant foods that are so vital to their growth and development. However, I have experienced firsthand the wrath of a picky toddler and know that getting kids to eat vegetables is sometimes easier said than done. To remedy this situation, I find it best to give them something that they already recognize. For example, they can still have that macaroni and cheese, but perhaps the sauce is made out of butternut squash instead of cheese. Or, in this instance, you can make tofu nuggets instead of chicken nuggets. If you serve these with a tasty dipping sauce (kids love to dip) they won't even taste a difference. These tofu nuggets are simple to make and easy to prepare in large batches. I have had several meetings I brought these to, and they were gone in seconds. They didn't stand a chance against a group of hungry teenagers. You can get creative with the dipping sauces you serve with them. Some that I've used in the past are spicy mustard, marinara, tahini garlic, and BBQ sauce. Try these out for your next get-together or for a picky toddler's lunch--they are sure to please!