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    Home » Vegan recipes » Meal Prep

    15 vegan packed lunch ideas for kids and adults

    Last Modified: Jul 9, 2021 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    image collage of vegan packed lunches: sandwich, quinoa salad, kale salad, chickpea sandwich
    image collage of vegan packed lunches: sandwich, quinoa salad, kale salad, chickpea sandwich, text overlay

    Ready to shake up your lunchbox game? These vegan packed lunch ideas are just what you need, whether you're packing for yourself or a kid.

    image collage of vegan packed lunches: sandwich, quinoa salad, kale salad, chickpea sandwich

    Jump To:
    • Kid-friendly lunch box
    • Meal prep containers for grownup lunches
    • Thermos for soups and stews
    • Vegan packed lunch ideas

    Y'all, my child is in KINDERGARTEN (Edit: Oh my word, he is now in third grade! How did that happen?). I can't believe it. He is loving his school and adjusting like a champ.

    Now that he's seeming so big, I feel like I need to adjust his lunches accordingly. Those preschool lunches I was packing just don't feel like they're cutting it anymore. I needed some big kid vegan lunch ideas for this dude!

    Of course, not everyone reading this is packing lunches for a child, so the list below includes more grownup vegan lunch ideas, too. I tried to include something for everyone!

    Whenever I talk about lunches, I get a lot of questions about the containers my family uses. Below are the lunchboxes I use for my son, the meal prep containers Dave uses for his lunches, and a thermos a friend recommended that's on my to-buy list. Her daughter LOVES it!

    Kid-friendly lunch box

    For my son, I am still using this Lock & Lock box with four removable compartments. I love this BPA-free modular lunchbox, because my kid can open and close it himself, and I can change up the inner containers to suit what we're packing.

    This graphic from my post on preschool lunches gives you an idea of how I make the most of the inner containers:

    image collage of preschool lunches for a veg kid

    See how we mix up the configuration to work with what we're packing?

    Meal prep containers for grownup lunches

    Dave has been on the hunt for the ideal meal prep container, and he landed on these glass ones. They're nice and big, so there's plenty of room for the huge sandwiches he favors at lunchtime.

    When he brings leftovers from supper, he usually totes them in these lidded Pyrex containers, because we use different sizes of these to store all of our food, and he has access to a microwave to reheat. Why dirty another dish, right?

    If we have a bunch of leftovers, I'll divvy them up between a couple of those Pyrex containers, so Dave and I both have portioned-out lunches to grab and eat.

    Thermos for soups and stews

    I have not personally tried it yet, but my friend, Andrea, says she and her daughter both love this Thermos for bringing in warm leftovers (bonus: it's adorable!).

    She reheats leftovers in the morning, then piles them into this baby. My kid isn't big on soups and stews, so I haven't ponied up for a Thermos for him.

    Vegan packed lunch ideas

    Got your containers of choice handy? Let's talk vegan packed lunch goodness!

    1. The mighty sandwich

    My kid kind of hates bread (I KNOW!), but Dave brings sandwiches a lot. Obviously, you can do sandwiches all kinds of ways, but he tends to make variations on this:

    • whole grain bread
    • hummus or vegan mayo
    • avocado
    • cucumber
    • lettuce
    • Tofurky deli slices (sometimes)
    • vegan cheese slice (sometimes)

    He'll usually pack an apple and some pretzels or pita chips to go with this.

    For our bread-shunning child, sometimes I do a deconstructed sandwich with that Lock & Lock box I mentioned.

    One section has a few rolled up Tofurky slices, one has grape tomatoes and a piece of vegan cheese, and I fill the rest with popcorn or pretzels. He gets an orange or an apple on the side, since you can pack those without a container. It's not the healthiest lunch, but he loves it!

    Below, you'll find some additional ideas for vegan sandwiches sprinkled in among the other lunch ideas.

    tofu egg salad in a bowl

    Tofu egg salad recipe

    This isn't your average tofu egg salad. Spiked with Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and crunchy carrots, it is going to up your sandwich game.

    2. 'Egg' salad

    When I get it together to make a batch of Magical Tofu "Egg" Salad on Sunday, we are set for lunches through Wednesday! Use it to stuff a pita or regular bread, send it solo with pita chips and veggies to dip, or send it as a topping for green salad.

    If you do want to use this as a salad topper, I recommend packing the tofu salad in a separate container from the actual salad, so you won't end up with soggy greens. It's easy enough to dump the tofu salad on at lunchtime. Don't forget to pack a fork!

    hands holding a mashed chickpea salad with grapes

    Mashed chickpea salad recipe

    Weekday lunches are easy with a container of creamy, flavorful mashed chickpea salad in the fridge. Sweet-tart sliced grapes and crunchy sunflower seeds bring amazing flavors and textures to this vegan lunch staple!

    3. Chickpea salad

    There are lots of ways to make a tasty chickpea salad, but I love this recipe that uses red grapes for a little bit of tart-sweetness. Like a conventional egg salad, you can pack it up as a sandwich, a dip, or a green salad topping.

    overhead photo of a bowl od noodles with carrots, cabbage, edamame, and tofu

    Cold peanut noodles recipe

    Creamy peanut sauce, crunchy veggies, and tender pieces of tofu make this cold peanut noodle salad a one-bowl meal!

    4. Cold peanut noodles

    Cold peanut noodles with edamame, crunchy carrots, and tofu are a great lunchbox addition. It's a filling lunch that you don't need to worry about reheating.

    If you need to make this packed lunch peanut-free, just use sunflower seed butter in place of peanut butter to make the sauce.

    meal prep container of quinoa lentil kale salad on a marble table

    Lentil and quinoa salad recipes

    Are you ready to meal prep? Here's how to turn one batch of lentils and quinoa into two different salads, so you can eat it all week without getting bored!

    5. Lentil and quinoa salads

    Lentils and quinoa are super versatile, which is why this recipe uses these protein-packed plants in two different ways!

    Each of these lentil and quinoa salads pairs them with different roasted veggies, greens, and dressings for two easy lunch salads. These vegan lunches will keep you feeling full and satisfied all week long.

    Instant Pot Chili with Canned Beans and Tofu is one of my family's favorite meals, and it's so, so easy to make!

    Instant Pot Chili with Canned Beans and Tofu

    Instant Pot Chili with Canned Beans and Tofu is one of my family's favorite meals, and it's so, so easy to make!

    6. Chili or stew

    Now's the time to bust out that Thermos! Leftover chili is your friend. Our favorite is my Instant Pot Chili. If tofu isn't your thing, try my easy 3-Bean Chili instead.

    I'm a big believer that stews taste even better the next day. Fill up a thermos with Vegan Chicken Stew or Vegan Beef Stew for a hearty, warm lunch.

    If chili or stew alone doesn't feel like enough, pack a Cornbread Muffin to go with it.

    hand placing a piece of tofu bacon onto a vegan BLT

    Balsamic Tofu Bacon

    Balsamic Tofu Bacon is sweet, smoky, salty, and delicious anywhere that you'd use bacon. Serve it up as slices alongside a tofu scramble, stuffed into a breakfast sandwich, or diced up over a salad.

    7. Vegan bacon sandwich

    Whip up a batch of my Balsamic Tofu Bacon or whatever vegan bacon you prefer the night before, and you're ready to build the vegan BLT of your dreams! I like mine with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and vegan mayo.

    If you're packing lunch for a sandwich-hater, just pair up the bacon with grape tomatoes or carrot sticks, a fruit of their choice, and some kind of starch (pretzels, cubed sweet potato, corn...whatever they like eating).

    hand holding a vegan sushi burrito with tofu, avocado, mango, and pickled ginger

    Vegan Sushi Burrito with Air Fryer Tofu

    A fully loaded Vegan Sushi Burrito stuffed with air fryer tofu, mango, avocado, and more!

    8. Sushi burrito

    Any time we make sushi burritos, Dave requests an extra one, so he can bring it to lunch the next day. The rice hardens a bit in the fridge overnight, but it softens back up by lunchtime.

    My kid mutilates any kind of rolled sushi, so I'd go the deconstructed route here again -- pack his favorite sushi burrito elements (rice, carrots & avocado, tofu, mango) in sections of his Lock & Lock and send a pack of seaweed snacks on the side.

    spoon serving up vegan pasta salad from a gray bowl

    Vegan pasta salad recipe

    This satisfying, vegan pasta salad is crowd-pleasing and easy to make. The tangy, creamy avocado aioli dressing makes this cookout staple extra special.

    9. Pasta salad

    This is another side dish that can totally be a meal, with the right mix-ins.

    A big helping of Dianne's Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad is packed with filling beans and veggies. My Southwest-Style Pasta Salad and Pasta Salad with Avocado Lime Basil Aioli are also hearty vegan packed lunch ideas.

    Throw your favorite fruit into a separate container, and you're lunch-ready.

    meal prep containers filled with tofu, beans and rice, and vegetables

    Easy Tofu Burrito Bowl Meal Prep

    Zesty chilied tofu over black beans and rice with plenty of veggies. This easy Tofu Burrito Bowl is the meal prep you need to sort this week's lunches!

    10. Tofu burrito bowl

    This easy meal prep makes four lunches, so you are set for almost the whole week!

    Beans and rice, chili lime tofu, and fresh tomato and avocado are an easy, filling meal that's delicious warm or at room temperature.

    Sweet-and-spicy Ginger Tofu over sushi rice with my favorite sushi roll fillings. You can make the tofu in the oven or the air fryer!

    Ginger Tofu Vegan Sushi Bowl - oven or air fryer directions

    Sweet-and-spicy Ginger Tofu is the star of this flavorful vegan sushi bowl. You can make the tofu in the oven or in the air fryer!

    11. Sushi bowl

    A sushi bowl makes a great cold lunch. Just fill your box about a third of the way with prepared sushi rice, then pile on all of your toppings. You can use this sushi bowl recipe or just riff with your favorite sushi fillings.

    For to-go sushi bowls, I don't pack the seaweed (or seaweed snacks) in the box, since they'll get soggy. Instead, send them in a smaller container on the side.

    If you're using the Lock & Lock, you can just put one of the inner sections in before filling the box with rice and toppings, then cut the seaweed to fit into that little square.

    meal prep container with sweet potato, quinoa, brussels sprouts, and creamy sauce

    Air Fryer Meal Prep with Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts

    This flexible air fryer meal prep recipe stars Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and two easy, blender sauces to keep things interesting all week long!

    12. Air fryer meal prep

    If you really want to knock out a bunch of packed lunches at once, meal prepping is your friend. This easy recipe uses quinoa (or grain of your choice) as the base topped with air fryer sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts.

    Two blender sauces keep things interesting all week long!

    A bowl of vegan taco salad on a blue table with Chimichurri dressing

    Vegan Taco Salad with Chimichurri Dressing

    This fully loaded Vegan Taco Salad gets a flavor punch from blender chimichurri sauce.

    13. Taco salad

    This hearty taco salad is enough to make a whole meal! To make sure that you store your dressing in a separate container, so the green don't get soggy.

    I like these little containers for toting sauces and dressings. They're a good size and dishwasher safe.

    purple bowl of vegan sesame noodles on a gray table

    Sesame noodles recipe

    Easy Sesame Noodles are perfect served hot or cold as a base for a bowl meal or alongside lettuce or Napa Cabbage Wraps. And they only take about 15 minutes to make!

    14. Sesame noodle bowl

    Whip up a big batch of my Cold Sesame Noodles, and you've got the base for all kinds of great vegan lunch ideas, just add protein and veggies! Here are some ideas for how to build your bowl:

    • Protein: cooked or uncooked tofu, steamed edamame, cashews, almonds, or canned and drained adzuki beans
    • Veggies: sliced cucumber, carrot sticks, raw or cooked broccoli, raw or cooked kale, snap peas or snow peas, green onion, or shredded cabbage
    • Optional sauce ideas: Blender Peanut Butter Sauce, Red Curry Almond Sauce, All-Purpose Coconut Curry Sauce
    Big, fresh leaves of Napa cabbage heaped with plenty of flavorful tofu are perfect with a side of Quick Sesame Noodles. Supper is served!

    Napa Cabbage Wraps with Easy Sesame Noodles

    Big, fresh leaves of Napa cabbage heaped with plenty of flavorful tofu are perfect with a side of Quick Sesame Noodles. Supper is served!

    15. Napa cabbage wraps

    Napa Cabbage Wraps with Sesame Noodles are a healthy, make-ahead vegan lunch idea. Pack the tofu and noodles in one container, then send the Napa cabbage leaves separately, for lunchtime-wrapping.

    You can also do this salad-style in a single container. Shred the cabbage leaves, then layer on the noodles and tofu. You do you!

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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cadry

      September 13, 2018 at 10:23 am

      Becky, this post has made me SO HUNGRY. (After I leave this comment, I'm running to the kitchen. STAT.) There are so many good ideas here, and that thermos is adorable. When I used to do touring children's theatre, it was always a treat when I packed lunch in a thermos. Because there's something immediately special about a warm lunch when you're away from home. Thanks for including my kale salad in your list!

      Reply

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    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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