15 Vegan School Lunch Ideas
Let’s keep it real:
As a busy mom, when it comes to making school lunches it's often a game-time sprint!
When it comes to making school lunches it's often a game-time sprint! Last minute life is great for freshness, but not so nice if you're running tight on time. (And what parent isn't often running tight on time?!)
Great school lunch staples
Chickpeas, beans & rice are good to have in rotation
Simplicity is my saving grace when it comes to making quick, healthy, plant-based school lunches.
If you’re looking for back-to-school lunch ideas, here are 15 of our quick go-to's:
Vegan macaroni & cheese: Don’t have time to make it from scratch? Annie’s brand tastes good with seasoning. We pair the mac & cheese with broccoli and grapes.
Cold pasta: Sure, spaghetti is legit. But if you want to mix it up, try this rotini blend: Pair cooked, cold rotini pasta with raw vegetables like cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots, and onion. Sprinkle on some oregano and live! If you want a protein pick-me-up, add some garbanzos to the mix.
Veggie sandwich: Stack it up with your favorite greens! Lettuce, spinach, avocado, pepperoncini, tomatoes, olives—the works. Dress your sandwich with mustard and Vegenaise, or hummus. Add sweet potato chips on the side. My daughter also enjoys a plain and simple avocado sandwich, made similar to avocado toast. A vegan grilled cheese sandwich is another delightful option. My best advice for selecting a vegan cheese brand: Experiment with a few brands until you find one that suites your tastes. Selecting a good vegan cheese can be a very personal choice, based on your taste buds!
Chickpea salad sandwich: Mix it up like tuna! Sub out the tuna for chickpeas. Add Vegenaise, mustard, relish and black pepper. I add onions and celery for me. The kids skip it! Here’s my full recipe.
Sun-butter & jelly sandwich: A favorite peanut-free substitute, my kids are warming up to this one and I love it because the combination is delish. As someone with a peanut allergy, I can appreciate that it has a slightly different taste than peanuts, but still maintains that classic, yummy flavor.
Veggie burgers or sausages: Our favorite veggie burger is Impossible Burger, which packs a punch with 19g of protein! Veggie sausages can also work as a tasty lunch item if you’re prepping a breakfast-styled lunch paired with pancakes or waffles. Packing tip: Separate the meat from the bread or pancakes to preserve freshness.
Chick'n nuggets: Air fry these bad boys and you’re golden! A lot of companies are making vegan chicken nuggets. Our current favorite is Jack & Annie’s. I like their clean ingredients. The kids enjoy the texture of their nuggets when they are fried. Paired with dipping sauce, a carrot/cucumber medley or fresh apple slices.
Cucumber rolls: Hollow out cucumber. Stuff with rice, diced tofu, cucumber or sliced carrots. Tastes like sushi with less preparation time!
Cubed, roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes: With peas, rice (white, brown, or yellow), and edamame. Btw, edamame is always a great, lunch-friendly protein go-to.
Soup: We love porting veggie, lentil, or tomato soup in a Thermos on a cold day. Chili and cornbread is another banger! Add plain pasta, a tasty roll, or fruit on the side.
Black beans & rice: Although my children are not yet into veggie buddha bowls, I’m hoping that this is a way to prepare them. Black beans and rice is so versatile. You can switch up the type of rice that you use. It pairs well with most vegetables. The texture also holds up well in a school setting, without having to pop it in the fridge.
Veggie quesadillas: Sometimes basic is best. Our quesadillas are filled with broccoli and vegan cheese. We're still experimenting with different plant-based cheese brands that everyone vibes with. Consider this dish a work in progress!
Bagel & Company: My oldest loves bagels and is pretty firm on enjoy them with a good cream cheese spread. We’re planning to try Philadelphia’s plant-based spread. I also like Tofutti cream cheese, which has a solid list of clean ingredients and decent taste. Pizza bagels can also be a winner. Spread pizza sauce on top of a bagel, sprinkle with vegan cheese and pop in the oven or broiler to melt the cheese.
Crunchy chickpeas: Chickpeas, broccoli and vegetable fried rice are another one of our lunch staples, as it generally holds up well. If you want your chickpeas to have a bit of a crunch, add them to a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil, onion and garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika on top and mix. Add your chickpeas to the air fryer for a few minutes, or in the oven at about 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Muffins & Bites: High protein vegan muffins that include apples and cinnamon, bananas, or zucchini are always a fun lunchbox treat. You can also try vegan egg bites and pair them with your kids favorite snacks.
What are your favorite vegan school lunch ideas?
…And if the thought of packing school lunch stresses you out, check out my guide below.
Thanks for reading! For more resources for busy moms who want to lead healthier, plant-based lives: Follow me @getmommafied on Instagram, and subscribe to my bimonthly Mommafied Note.