Tofu recipes kids love! (2024)

FAQs

How to get toddlers to eat tofu? ›

12 months old +: Offer bite-sized cubes of firm or extra-firm tofu and consider introducing trainer chopsticks or a fork to encourage utensil practice. You can also preload a spoon of silken tofu and rest it next to the food for the child to try to pick up.

The short answer is yes, as long as they aren't allergic or intolerant to soy. Tofu is a minimally-processed, healthy food for babies and kids that offers plenty of nutrients. It's a fantastic source of plant-based protein, fiber, and many essential micronutrients including iron, zinc, and calcium.

Use a steak marinade, grill with onions and barbecue sauce, and serve on a toasted bun at your next BBQ. Cube it, coat with cornstarch, pan fry, and serve with honey mustard and sweet potato fries for super-easy "chicken" nuggets.

It is made from dried soybeans that are soaked in water and then crushed and boiled. Soy milk is separated from the solids. The soy milk is poured into molds to allow the carbohydrate-laden whey to drain off. This results in soft cakes of tofu that are cut into squares and stored under water.

Use tofu in children's daily meals

However, in addition to providing the body with the necessary amount of protein, the amount of protein in tofu can make children difficult to digest, because the child's stomach has not fully developed. So children eating a lot of tofu may not be good.

Add silken tofu to kids smoothies, baby food purees, or in puree soups for kids. To serve tofu in the baby-led weaning style, offer it in finger-size pieces. To serve tofu as a finger food, cut it into small pieces for baby to pick up.

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

For brand new eaters, tofu is an ideal first food and can work well for baby-led weaning. Simply cut a block of tofu into long strips that your baby can practice picking up and feeding herself. Alternatively, you can crumble extra firm tofu or cut it into small cubes she can bite.

Yes, Boys Can Enjoy Soy!

How much protein can you get from soy? The abundance of research and soy's inclusion in the USDA Dietary Guidelines confirm soy is a healthy, nutritious choice for men (and women) of all ages.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What pairs well with tofu? ›

Enjoying tofu really comes down to preparation. If it's not prepared correctly, it likely won't taste good. The key to making tofu taste good is pressing out enough of the water so it can take on the seasoning you put with it. If you want to skip the pressing step, buy a super firm option.

You can serve tofu raw, baked or stir-fried — just make sure the final texture is soft enough that you can still squish it between your fingers. Tofu that's very well-baked or overly crisp might have a tough outer skin that's difficult for your baby to gum or chew. As for soft or silken tofus?

“Dogs can eat tofu in moderation as it is not toxic to them, but it does not contain enough protein to fulfill their nutritional requirements,” explains Dr. Klein. As a result, you should not use tofu protein as a primary ingredient in your dog's diet.

“The only thing we can say is that women should be safe to consume soya foods in amounts consistent with Asian diet, including tofu, fermented soya foods and soymilk, but studies shown that the more soya is processed, the lower the level of isoflavones, which we think are protective elements,” says Trock.

Tofu is an excellent first food for babies starting to eat. It is a nutrient-dense, protein-rich food and it contains many nutrients that are vital to a baby's growth.

Cut baked or raw tofu into pea-sized pieces to encourage your older baby to work on her pincer grasp. You can also try adding silken tofu to smoothies as she starts learning to sip from a straw cup.

You can make cooked soybeans into a homemade, low-sodium hummus that is a safe way to introduce your baby to the potentially allergenic food soy. This recipe was adapted from a Food Network recipe and altered by a Registered Dietitian to make it more appropriate for baby-led weaning.