Plant-Based Juniors

03/12/2026

Excuse me while a grab a tissue 😭😭😭

I put carrot sticks 🥕 in my son’s lunch box multiple times a week for about two years straight and every time they would come back uneaten. I served them regularly at dinner - steamed, roasted, with flavorful spices, in cute shapes. Still, nothing ❌

Then, one day, I challenged him to a crunch contest and he was all about it. The friendly, pressure-free competition was just the thing to get him to try a bite. And guess what, he enjoyed them. From that day forward, he started eating carrots 👏

And now, in a turn of events that would absolutely shock that woman steadfastly packing a vegetable that got rejected 100% of the time, he now eats them....of his own accord 😳

No joke, this kid grabs them out of the fridge to nosh while he watches shows.

Picky eating isn’t your fault and it’s not something you can “treat.” It’s a common, age-appropriate biological response to unfamiliar foods that can be compounded by temperament, genetics, and other environmental factors.

The formula we’ve found that is the most likely to work 👉
Time + patience + evidence-based practices...and a little luck

You can do everything “right” when it comes to feeding your kiddos and they still might just need time. Sometimes, lots of time ⏰

Hang in there, parents. There is light at the end of the tunnel! ❤️

Want some practical tips for getting through picky eating phases? We’ve got a free 5-day mini pediatric nutrition email course with a whole day dedicated to picky eating. Check it out at the link in our bio 👇

03/10/2026

These baked lentil meatballs are one of our favorite protein-packed plant-based dinner staples 🍝

They’re loaded with fiber, iron, and minerals — but more importantly they’re soft, savory, and kid-approved 🧒

We use them for:�• spaghetti and meatballs�• marinara dipping�• meatball subs�• baby-led weaning patties

For this recipe, we used Regenerative Organic Certified green lentils, which are grown using regenerative agriculture practices that help improve soil health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.

Good for your family, better for the planet 🌱

Comment “MEATBALLS” for the recipe.

03/09/2026

Parents ask about picky eating, supplements, weight concerns, growth, and more—and clinicians are expected to have clear, evidence-based answers.

That gap is exactly why we created Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals, a 25 CME/CE-accredited course designed specifically for pediatric clinicians.

We’ve updated the course to include the most recent DGAs and this week, we’re relaunching the course with a few bonuses:

• $200 off enrollment
• 4 LIVE cooking classes
• Your choice of a bonus module (sports nutrition or fertility/pregnancy nutrition) or one of our parent courses

If you’re a pediatrician, dietitian, or clinician working with families and want stronger training in pediatric nutrition, this course was built for you.

👉 Comment “COURSE” and we’ll send you the details.

And if you know a clinician who might benefit from this training, feel free to share this with them.

03/08/2026

You don’t need dairy, but you DO need calcium. Save this post for calcium-rich snack ideas. 🦴

You’ll see a few different fortified options on here— like fortified coconut yogurt ( is our fav, but there are lots of options!) & fortified soy milk. Fortification is great and especially for dairy-free kids, are an incredibly easy & convenient way to meet calcium needs.

Chia pudding, No protein powder protein smoothie, Açaí bowl & chocolate tofu pudding recipes are all on our website— 🖥️ plantbasedjuniors.com

Chia seed jam is over on

What’s your favorite calcium snack!? 🙋‍♀️

03/02/2026

You know how important iron is to infants starting solids (babes are born with iron stores, but they start to decline around 4-6 months), but you don’t need meat to get meet iron needs.

Here are our favorite easy plant-based purées using some of our favorite iron-rich foods— lentils, tofu, quinoa, green peas, beans and iron-fortified oatmeal! We do prefer a mixed-grain or oat based fortified oatmeal to reduce arsenic concerns.

Want more guidance for feeding your kids more plants? That’s exactly what we do here at 💚

02/27/2026

Who can relate? 😤 🙋‍♀️

The lunch box struggle is real. The daily planning, packing, and emotional investment that goes in to trying to serve up meals that are both nutritious AND that your kids will actually eat can be exhausting 🤦‍♀️

Just know - even with the best intentions and plans, this scenario plays out for all of us - even chefs and dietitians! 👩‍⚕️

And, if you’re looking for support/ideas for healthy, delicious, plant-based lunches, comment “LUNCHES” and we’ll send you a link to our Nut-Free Lunch Box Book 📕

02/27/2026

Quinoa is nutritionally one of the best first foods for babies— and it’s soft enough to be pureed for spoon feeding and for baby-led weaning.

We’re using red quinoa in this recipe and love all of their sustainably sourced products. 🫶

PS— Along with babes, quinoa is an excellent food for breastfeeding mothers. 🤱 As a nutrient-dense whole grain, it provides essential protein, fiber, iron, and magnesium, which help maintain maternal energy levels and is a great swap for any recipe that uses rice. 👍

These recipes are on our website, and below! Make sure to save this post to reference or share with a friend who wants more infant-feeding recipes.

💫 Orange Quinoa Puree: 🍊
Blend together
1/2 cup cooled sweet potato
1/2 oranges, juice and zest
1/4 cup cooked red or Tri-color quinoa

💫 Baby-Led Weaning Patties:
Mix together:
1 cup cooked quinoa (cooled slightly)
¼ cup mashed white beans or chickpeas
2 tablespoons finely grated carrot (or zucchini!)
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (for extra omega-3 fatty acids)
2 tablespoons oat flour (to keep gluten-free/allergen-free but all purpose works too)
Pinch of garlic powder
�Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mixture and gently form into small, flat patties finger-shaped patties.��Heat a thin layer of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook patties for 3–4 minutes per side until lightly golden and set.

Cool before serving and enjoy!
BTW- I made these into meatballs for my kids (added a little salt) and served with a BBQ dipping sauce!

02/25/2026

One pan AND easy clean-up!? Our 👏 kinda 👏 meal.

These quickie stir-fry noodles are a weeknight favorite of ours— chop a few items, make a quick sauce, sauté some tofu and… That’s it!

I’m using the Thai wheat noodles from Trader Joe’s which can be added right to the pan without boiling first— but you can use whatever noodles you want. If using dry noodles, boil them first!

Full recipe is on our website, plantbasedjuniors.com or, comment DINNER and we’ll DM ya the link. 😚

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02/25/2026

02/19/2026

Meal Prep With Us! 🙌

If you’re new here, hi! We’re Whitney and Alex, aka , two registered dietitians and moms showing you how to feed your family a plant-rich diet with easy recipes and evidence-based nutrition tips. 👩‍⚕️ 🥦 👧

Here’s what Whitney meal prepped this week for her family of four 👉

* Raspberry and Chocolate Chip Chickpea Balls
* Cheelas aka savory chickpea pancakes
* Cuban Black Beans
* Produce! Washed and chopped broccoli for a dinner side, kale for kale chips, and romaine for burrito bowls.

Comment “Meal Prep” and we’ll DM you the recipes 👇

02/17/2026

Kids see thousands of food ads every year— mostly for hyper-palatable, less nutritious foods like candy, sugary drinks and fast food. 🥤 Meanwhile, food prices for many whole foods are up 8% since last year.

Then, we ask parents to “do better” without recognizing that families are stuck inside a system designed to sell more processed food. 🤔

If it makes you want to scream— me too. 😤 We do not make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Until the system changes, here’s what can help:
🗒️ Start with what’s affordable: less-expensive, nutritious food does exist: store brands, canned beans, frozen vegetables, oats, dried beans, peanut butter— all budget friendly.
🗒️ Pay attention to local/state proposals related to these topics, especially marketing restrictions to children. At home, limit where you can— like food ads on apps/Youtube. In my house, when I see ads marketed to my kids, I let them know that characters and colors are marketing tools and these ads are designed to make foods look more exciting.
🗒️ Companies track consumer feedback, perhaps more than you think. Let them know what you want to see and more than just lip service on removing ingredients that won’t make an actual dent.