Disclaimer, this is made for vegans that feel comfortable ordering from places that serve animal products. A lot of this list is what some people would consider junk food, and people will obviously have their own beliefs about children having junk food. These are some of the options my kids liked when they were little, but there are also some new menu items on this list. Not everything is certified vegan, but some things it is very clear, eg water, apple slices. If you don’t order from these places yourself this list is still good in case your child goes to a party with any of the fast food chains below served.
McDonalds- One of the harder ones on this list because there are currently only 4 vegan food items after they removed the dippers. I know the McPlant exists but it is too big for some younger kids. The fries are vegan (not in the US, UK only) so you can order a happy meal with fruit instead of a main. If the restaurant refuses to let you do that, you can order fruit, fries and a toy separately. The current fruit options are carrot sticks and apple pieces but this will change. The fruitshoots, water and fruit juices are all vegan. The ketchup is also vegan.
KFC- Also quite hard. Yes, there is a vegan “chicken” burger but again, a kid might find it too big. Unfortunately, the chips are not vegan or vegetarian. However, the corn, side salad, beans, and cajun rice is. Thankfully, they serve bear yo-yos which are vegan, so your child will be able to have a desert. They have both flavours of fruitshoot, robinsons blackcurrant, lipton peach tea and also water, which is all vegan. Again, the ketchup is vegan.
Burger king- The vegan selection here is great, there is a vegan whopper and a vegan royale. Thankfully, the fries are vegan!! The onion rings do not contain animal products but are cooked on the same surfaces if you are worried about cross contamination. I find you can also use the “swap the kids main for fruit” trick here, the kids meal comes with a toy. (note that not all locations have the fruit). Drink wise there is bottled water and innocent smoothies (all vegan). Both of the frozen fanta flavours are vegan, so your child will be able to have a desert.
Costa- We’re really in luck for this one! They have a vegan “ham” and “cheese” toastie!! Other vegan items include the gingernut loaf cake, double chocolate cookie, caramelised biscuit rocky road, oaty flapjack & biscoff cheesecake. The majority of the drinks can be made vegan.
Nando’s- The vegan items on the kids menu include: chips, cucumber sticks, and spicy rice. The pip smoothies that come with the kids meals are vegan. They have sweet potato wedges on the general menu which are also thankfully vegan. The next one is surprising, the garlic bread turns out to be vegan! They recently also added the Peri-Plant-filet which is a plus.
Dominos- They added plant based cheese a while back which is amazing! The thick pizza base is NOT vegan, but the “thin and crispy” base is! If you want a child size vegan pizza, ask for a cheeky little pizza with a thin base and plant based cheese. For some reason the app doesn't let you order a cheeky little pizza with plant based cheese, so unfortunately you would have to do this in store (I have done it before, it definitely can be done). However, I have been in some restaurants where they refuse to swap the cheese and in this situation the only option is to remove the cheese entirely. For sides, the potato wedges and fries are vegan. For the sauce, we’re in luck because there is a plant based garlic and herb dip! For drinks they have water as well as things like coke and sprite (which are plant based, but I know some people don’t like giving their children carbonated drinks).
Pizza hut- They also thankfully have vegan cheese! Unfortunately all the pizza sizes are quite big, so you may have to share! The potato wedges and onion rings are vegan. Sauces, only the tomato ketchup and BBQ sauce are vegan. For the drinks, they have lipton peach tea and water (both vegan).
Chick-fil-a - They really don’t have many plant based options. However, you can use the “swap the main with fruit” trick for this one too. If you are unable to do that you can order the fries and fruit cup separately. You can get an innocent smoothie water (vegan) with the kids meal. The ketchup and BBQ sauces are vegan. Good luck finding something as an adult!
Popeyes- They have a red bean creole sandwich (vegan). If that’s too big for your kid, there are some other vegan items like fries, side salad (you will need to customise it to take out the coleslaw). The BBQ sauce is vegan. For drinks, there is oasis along with carbonated drinks. If any vegetarians are here, there is a mac & cheese poppy meal.
I hope this was helpful! If anyone wants me to cover any others I will do so.
