Kids: Birthday Party Menus

Or create your own birthday tradition with something new:

• Burrito bar: Prepare burrito fillings such as black or pinto beans, steamed cut corn, mashed sweet potatoes, rice, tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, lettuce, and salsa. Steam flour tortillas and make the youngest partygoers a burrito to order. Allow older children to build burritos themselves.
• Potato boats: Bake whole russet potatoes and scoop out the insides. Keep the skins—these will be the “boats.” Mix the potato filling with sautéed mushrooms and diced mixed vegetables such as peas, carrots, corn, onions, and green beans. Add plain soymilk to moisten the mixture and season with herbs and a bit of black pepper. Stuff the mixture back into the potato boats and decorate the tops with red, green, or yellow pepper, broccoli florets, and other colorful vegetables. Bake until veggies are cooked and serve potato boats warm with mild salsa.
• Garden platter: Arrange cooked sweet potato slices, baked tofu chunks, cucumber slices, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, sweet red and yellow peppers, and broccoli “trees” on a platter. For a creative touch, arrange these colorful foods in a design or a favorite shape. Serve with easy bean dip or cheesy garbanzo spread.