September means back-to-school season for so many of us! Whether you’re packing lucky for a little one, in school yourself, or just looking for good on-the-go- vegan lunch ideas, we’ve got your back!
As a plant-based eater, it can often be a little more difficult to have good on-the-go lunch options. There are usually little to no plant-based options offered in schools or workplaces, so the burden to ensure you’re getting a healthy lunch will fall on you. While some may view this as a bad thing, it can most definitely be a good thing. When you’re packing your lunch, you know exactly what you’re putting in your body and you’re also able to make sure that you’ll enjoy everything on your plate, so nothing goes to waste!
When building a nutritionally adequate vegan meal, it’s important to have a source of plant-based protein, a complex carbohydrate, and a fruit or vegetable. When packing your lunch, you want to make sure you have all of these present!
We’ve listed some examples of these components below:
▪️ Protein - beans, tofu, tempeh, protein powder, nuts and seeds, etc
▪️ Complex carbohydrates - Quiona, whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice, potatoes, etc
▪️fruit/ veggies - celery, carrots, apples, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.
So, now that you know what each component entails, let’s put them together for a balanced meal.
▪️ Black bean salad with quinoa and veggies
▪️tempeh sandwich with sliced fruit
▪️ Baked tofu with brown rice and broccoli
▪️ Overnight oats with protein powder and fruit
▪️ Peanut butter and jelly wrap with sliced apple
It’s important to take into account what you enjoy, and then get creative in the kitchen! There are so many ways you can fulfill these components. Do a quick Google search for “packed vegan lunches” and you will get a ton of inspiration!
It may also be a good idea to invest in an insulated lunch bag with ice packs. That way you can bring your favorite food everywhere! With these tips, hopefully, you’ll be set up for success!