Throwing a fun kids’ birthday party always seems more stressful than organising a casual party for adults. Planning everything from children’s activities to food and party bags can be overwhelming, but we’re here to save you some headaches. You might’ve already thought of the best foods to put on the table, but realised not all of them are vegan-friendly. We got you covered – we’ve selected some of our favourite vegan nibbles the children will love.
Whether you’re a vegan yourself or trying to accommodate other kids’ dietary needs, cracking the vegan code doesn’t have to be stressful at all.
What is vegan-friendly food?
Vegans don’t eat any foods that were derived from animal sources. That includes meat, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. It seems easy enough yet many products that should be vegan are often not. Some crisps contain milk, dips and sauces may have eggs or dairy in them and so on. When catering for kids with vegan dietary requirements, it’s crucial to check the ingredient list of each product and label the foods on the table. You should also make sure they are okay with soya and nuts since many vegan-friendly products contain these ingredients.
Vegan party nibbles that kids will love
- Vegan ‘chicken’ nuggets
A party favourite, chicken nuggets is a perfect finger food that both kids and adults enjoy. Some of our favourites include Fry’s Family Chicken-Style and Quorn Vegan Nuggets. If you want to make things even more fun for the little ones, go for dinosaur-shaped Quorn Roarsomes. Pair with some vegan dips like ketchup or BBQ sauce.
- Mini vegan hot dogs
To make these delicious vegan hot dogs use Richmond Meat-free, Quorn Brilliant Bangers or Cauldron sausages. Place them in small buns, top them with some crispy onions as well as ketchup or barbecue sauce.
- Vegan sausage rolls & cocktail sausages
Hard to imagine a kids’ birthday party without these staples. You can’t go wrong with a few packs of Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Mini Sausage Rolls, Cocktail Sausages or Beef Wellington Bites. If you want to make it extra fun, try making your own Cocktail Sausage Hedgehog!
- Onion bhajis & vegetable spring rolls
Include some delicious Asian nibbles on your table too, just make sure to check the ingredients. Although traditionally vegan, some spring rolls may have eggs in them.
- Mini sandwiches
If you have more time on your hands, make some bite-sized vegan sandwiches. Go for fillings such as tofu scramble and salad, peanut butter and jam or hummus and tomatoes.
- Vegan pizza
Pizza is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Some of our favourite supermarket vegan brands include Wicked, Sainsbury’s Love Your Veg!, Pizza Express Vegan Giardiniera and Ristorante Margherita Pomodori. Or, make your own! Keep it simple and make sure you’re using vegan cheese and toppings.
- Veggie sticks & hummus
This is probably the healthiest food combination that kids love with passion. Cut up some carrot, pepper and cucumber sticks and get a few packs of hummus. Getting kids excited about veggies has never been easier.
Easy vegan snacks to plate around
- Crisps
While a lot of crisps are accidentally vegan, carefully check the product ingredients to make sure. Some brands add milk to enhance their flavourings. Check out Hippeas, Walkers, Dorito’s and Tyrrells for some excellent vegan options.
- Biscuits
Quite a few of our long-time favourite biscuit brands happen to be vegan too. Fill the plates with Oreos, Jammie Dodgers, Fox’s Party Rings and Bourbon biscuits (check the ingredients for the latter since some brands like to add milk to the recipe).
- Fruit skewers
Easy, delicious and sweet. Thread pieces of pineapple, grape and raspberry onto skewers to create this healthy yet mouth-watering snack. Make it more colourful and fun by creating the rainbow effect.
Mouth-watering vegan desserts
- Vegan cupcakes
The more colourful, the better! Try this super simple chocolate and hazelnut cupcake recipe, or head to your local supermarket to pick up some delicious cupcakes from Oggs or Asda’s own brand.
- Vegan pastries
Jus-Rol is the holy grail of pastry products for vegans. From plain croissants to cinnamon swirls and pains au chocolat, it makes it quick and easy to bake some delicious goodies.
- Vegan ice cream
The market for vegan ice cream hasn’t been more exciting. You can find some amazing ice creams from such brands as Swedish Glace, Ben & Jerry’s, Oatly and Wicked. There are also more budget-friendly options from Morrison’s, Co-Op’s, Aldi’s or ASDA’s own range.
- Vegan birthday cake
And finally, let’s not forget the star of the show. If you’re ready to make your own vegan show-stopper, check out these cracking recipes for a carrot cake, chocolate cake with Oreo buttercream and funfetti cake. Don’t fret if you’re pressed for time – such brands as BOSH! and Just Love will have something vegan kids will love.
So here it is – your vegan party food sorted. These nibbles will be loved by little herbivores and carnivores alike, with some parents failing to resist them too. Planning a vegan kids’ birthday party or simply incorporating more plant-based food into your celebrations has never been easier. But it makes a big difference. In the words of Fearne Cotton @Fearnecotton: “Whenever you decide to eat vegan, whether it be for a month or once a week on a Monday, it’s still going to be beneficial to you and the planet.”