Eat in and Save: Attack of the teenage vegans
There comes a time in some parents' lives when a son or daughter sits them down to deliver the news: “I'm vegan.” If you are an omnivorous parent, as fond of meat and fish as you are of ice cream and cheese, this is tough information to swallow.
But swallow it you must, and you'll find that you'll all be happier if you master a vegan repertoire so the family can continue eating together in relative harmony. Even if your own children do not adopt a vegan diet, it's quite possible that some of their friends have done so. And if you are the kind of parents who like to make their kids' friends welcome, it's good to have a few vegan recipes under your belt for them, too.
Veganism is, briefly, defined as a diet that excludes all animal products — not just meat, fish and poultry but dairy products, eggs and honey, too.
In my experience, vegan entrees are not that difficult to produce: think of interestingly seasoned, roasted or sauteed or braised vegetables served on a bed of grains or pasta or potatoes. Hold the cheese. Dinner is served.
But vegan desserts can be a real challenge. We learn that eggs give breads and cakes structure, and help them rise, so how do we bake without them? Soy or almond milk might seem like a simple substitute for cow's milk, but taste results can vary. What about whipped cream?
Fortunately, vegan cookbooks are sprouting like, well, sprouts. The freshest of the crop is “Vegan Diner” by Julie Hasson (2001 Running Press). If you have begun to think that your child's vegan diet has taken the fun out of cooking, this book will put it back in, allowing you to reproduce such diner classics as burgers and a shake, faux pastrami sandwiches and “no-meat loaf” with mac and “cheese.”
Hasson's dessert section is especially appealing, with standards like chocolate-chip cookies, brownies and rice pudding. She has even achieved the impossible: the vegan cheesecake. Your newly minted vegan will be wowed ... as will anyone else who shares a bite.
So when your child says, “I'm vegan,” just say, “We know, dear. We've known for quite some time.” Pause. “Bon appetit.”