I like black bean and corn salad with chopped green onions and cilantro. You can add diced bell peppers, celery, or cherry tomatoes to add some additional veg.

Also, instead of a green salad, you can chop veggie sticks and use them for dippers in homemade bean dip:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/white-bean-dip-358374

You can also spread on crackers instead of cheese.

Anonymous wrote:Lentil tacos
Cuban black beans and rice

Recipes, please!

Lentil tacos
Cuban black beans and rice

We also use Ezekiel bread most of the time in our house. It's actually a complete protein source (unlike a lot of other veg options) and a 2 slice sandwich has 8g protein. That's a pretty decent amount of protein for a kid's meal, and then filled with anything that has bit of protein (sunbutter, hummus, egg, etc, it's fantastic).

http://www.ayearofslowcooking.com/2008/04/crockpot-tamale-pie-recipe.html

We skip the ground beef addition to make it vegetarian. And it's a crock pot recipe!

Hummus -- what kid doesn't love a dip. You can make it more kid-friendly if you have picky eaters with less garlic, lemon, tahini, so it's milder.

Falafel

Bean pasta -- Explore Asian makes some or there's another brand. Look like normal noodles, texture is similar to whole wheat pasta, but they're 100% beans.

Bean burgers

Also, maybe consider tofu or tempeh (if you're not soy-free). I was flabbergasted that both my kids have loved it from an early age, even plain and cold.

My kids will eat the hell out of a quesadilla made with refried beans and cheese. Maybe mash yours or blend til they're smooth and do the same?

Will they eat chickpeas? I do a coconut chickpea curry that can be done very mild but understand a lot of kids (including mine) wouldn't touch it.

Maybe burrito bowls with beans and they can add their own rice and toppings!?

Anonymous wrote:How about lentils, OP?

We make a lentil shepherd's pie that is really yummy. The lentils replace the ground meat.

How about lentils, OP?

Homemade baked beans where you can control the sweetness.

Bean patties. Take leftover beans, mash and add just enough flour to bind, form into patties and fry in a little oil or butter. Makes a nice side dish for breakfast or dinner.

Try this recipe. Idli molds are easily found in Indian grocery stores. Instead of chillies, add chopped sauted veggies your kids like. I would serve with a yummy coconut chutney - or any kind of gravy or soup that your kids like.

http://healthycookingwithmitha.blogspot.com/2013/08/urad-moong-dal-idli-healthy-no-rice.html

We make cheese and black bean enchiladas (but cover with cheese).

(I'm going to include lentils as well)

Falafel
Hummus
Dhal
Mujedarrah
Black bean soup
Lentil pot pie (http://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/butternut-squash-lentil-pot-pie/)
Tortilla Pie (http://www.marthastewart.com/336692/tortilla-and-black-bean-pie)

You could probably find a vegetarian tamale pie

I've never tried this recipe, but I've been wanting to: http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/my-new-favorite-thing/?scp=1&sq=bittman%25252520chickpea%25252520fries&st=cse&_r=0

My kid loves black beans and brown rice. Doesn't add any fixings, but you could.

Falafel.

Roasted chickpeas.

I try to serve meatless meals 2-3 nights a week. I have realized that I am relying heavily on cheese as the protein source in those meals and I really want to cut back on dairy in our diets. My kids don't love beans but will eat them in a burrito or chili (I think the beans are more palatable to them in those dishes because there are a lot of other ingredients so the beans aren't so obvious). Can you please suggest some meals that your kids enjoy using beans as the main protein source. One of my kids is allergic to some nuts which is why we can't rely on nuts as a non-meat protein source, although she can eat almonds.