By the age of five or six, your kids will form eating, exercise, and sleep habits that can last a lifetime. The Guelph Family Health Study is testing ways for kids to learn healthy habits early—habits that can significantly lower your child’s risk for disease, now and in the future.

Parents in the Guelph Family Health Study asked for kid-friendly and healthy recipes that they can serve to their families at home. The Guelph Family Health Study researchers responded by creating a series of cookbooks intended to make it a little easier to enjoy healthy and tasty foods made at home with your family!

The 2019 Canada’s Food Guide recommends eating plant-based proteins more often. Eating plant-based proteins can have a positive effect on your health and the health of the planet. It can also help reduce your grocery bill.

Whether you’ve never even heard of tempeh or had limited success getting your kiddos to eat tofu or have been cooking dried beans from scratch for years, this cookbook is for you.

However, our research indicates that incorporating more plant-based proteins can be a challenge for families in the Guelph Family Health Study—and research from across the country found similar results. While almost 64% of Canadians reported eating meat on a given day, only 14% ate legumes, such as beans, lentils, and peas. In response, we have designed this plant-based protein cookbook as a resource for understanding the different types of plant-based proteins and how to incorporate them in recipes to make delicious, healthy meals and snacks for your busy family.

Our team has created recipes guaranteed to meet the discerning taste buds of picky preschoolers, meat lovers, and long-time plant-based protein enthusiasts alike.

We begin with information about the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide and an overview of different types of protein foods. Next, we highlight shopping and preparation tips for adding more plant-based proteins to your meals and snacks. We then provide 30 recipes that will show you just how tasty plant-based proteins can be!

From our kitchen to yours—enjoy!