October 6, 2015
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If you’re family is looking to eat less meat, then these vegetarian lunch ideas are a great place to start. The recipes are easy to prepare, portable, and loved by both kids and adults- they won’t even miss the usual turkey sandwich.

If you’re trying out more meatless meals with your family, try our 30-day vegetarian meal plan. It’s 4 weeks of delicious kid-approved recipes with done-for-you shopping lists and detailed meal prep. Take a peek inside the vegetarian meal plan here.
Vegetarian Lunch Recipes for School
As with any of the lunch recipes you’ll find on this blog, vegetarian lunch ideas need to be:
- easy to make
- healthy
- satisfying
- portable
- delicious- of course!
And just because these recipes are vegetarian doesn’t mean they skimp on the protein. Ingredients like hummus, cheese, legumes, and beans are all great sources of protein as well as other nutrients such as fiber, healthy fats, and calcium.
Grab more lunch ideas in my latest ebook below!
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
These school lunches ideas are perfect for vegetarian families or even those who want to go meatless every now and then. They are packed with veggies, fiber, and alternative sources of protein to keep you feeling satiated all day!
Did I mention how delicious these recipes are? Your kids will love them. It’s always fun for them to open up their lunchbox and find a delicious meal!
Related: Top 5 Lunchboxes We’ve Tested
Lunch can be one of the hardest things to plan for, unlike dinner, there is only so much you can do since most lunches are eaten outside of the home. Most people want something that can be quickly assembled and is both healthy and satisfying. Not only do these recipes meet those high standards but they’re also 100% vegetarian approved!
A healthier twist on a club sandwich, this hummus veggie club will be sure to satisfy everyone! Creamy hummus makes a nutritious swap for regular replaces mayo and adds more flavor . Stack on any veggies you want and use whatever bread your family enjoys.
If your family doesn’t love hummus, try this salad sandwich with amazing homemade ranch dressing!
This perfectly spiced enchilada soup makes the best thermos lunch. It’s even more delicious on cold days when all you want is a warm bowl of soup. Pack this soup in a thermos and send it with your kid’s favorite toppings, such as cheese, avocado, and pico de gallo. Make sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth!
Black beans and quinoa bring on the protein in fiber in this southwest salad. It can be packed ahead of time and is best served at room temperature or warmed.
4. Falafel Stuffed Flatbread with Tzatziki Sauce
If your family loves Mediterranean food, then this recipe is for you! Crispy falafel is stuffed in a flatbread with veggies to make a satisfying lunch to please both kids and parents alike. Chickpeas contain lots of nutritious protein, fiber, and flavor!
5. Apple and Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This sandwich is a great way to use up all those delicious, juicy apples! It’s a spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich with the added nutrition of fruit! Your kids might even love this version better than the original.
Get some veggies into your kids’ diets without them even knowing! These broccoli nuggets are crispy and cheesy, an irresistible combination. They make an easy-packing lunch or great grab-and-go snack. Pair them with some fruit and nuts in a lunchbox, and you’ve got a super nutritious vegetarian lunch!
Since regular tacos can sometimes be too messy for lunch boxes, these mini black bean taco cups are the solution! They’re easy to prep ahead and pack and are easily customizable to your family’s favorite topping! Try cheese, salsa, and even lettuce.
All-time favorite party finger foods can also be turned into a fun and satisfying lunch! These are great for packing at the end of the week with leftover odds and ends from the fridge and pantry. Bento boxes also come in handy for lunches such as this.
Vegetarian Snacks for School
If your kids are involved in afterschool programs it’s likely they’ll need extra fuel to keep them going. These snacks are perfectly portable and kid-favorites that you can make ahead of keep in the refrigerator all week long.
- Chocolate Bites
- Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snack Bars
- Hummus with veggies
- Banana Chips
- Pumpkin Cookie Dough Dip
We hope you enjoyed our round-up of vegetarian school lunch ideas. Check out our other lunch ideas for easy packing!
8 Vegetarian School Lunch Ideas
Ingredients
Black Bean Taco Cups
- 40 wonton wrappers
- 1 can refried black beans warmed
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup pico de gallo or salsa
- Sour cream for topping
- Guacamole
- 2 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease 2 muffin tins with cooking spray. Line each cup with 2 wonton wrappers and lightly spray with cooking oil.
- Transfer the muffin tins to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the wonton wrappers are golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, warm the beans.
- Remove the taco cups from the oven and fill each with warmed black beans, cheese, pico de gallo/salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and green onions.
P
How packing a box with Tacos is practical? Does it not get soggy? Same thing with apple and cheese, would apple turn brown in the box?
MOMables-Laura
Using a compartmentalized lunch container can help ingredients from getting soggy, and you can prevent the apples from browning by soaking them in a lemon-water mixture. https://www.momables.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/
Mary
Heat packs for lunches?
Here and now is my first time hearing about them!
Thank you1
Mary
Ashley
Thank you! I’ve been struggling to figure out things they will eat.
MOMables-Laura
I hope these are a hit with your family!
Seija
Thanks so much for the great ideas! With 2 out of 3 of my kids not eating meat, and one being in a nut-free class, I’ve been struggling this year. I am excited to try these!
Christina
For dairy free kids, Smiths kroger brand has dairy free bread. Pb and j sandwiches are easy with that bread. I packed a lunch for her one day of a quesadilla with dairy free cheese with a heat pack jn her lunch box to keep warm and a boy knocked her lunch over after she took one bite and nobody told us and she went all day hungry. Good luck with the public school system and with free lunch there is no vegetarian option…being vegetarian doesn’t make us better, it makes us lucky to be able to maintain that belief in this world.
Rachel
i didn’t think they had heat packs for lunches! #gamechanger
Priya|howtobeapositiveparent
Lunch ideas are absolutely great . Being a vegetarian these ideas are ideal for me as I am always struggling to think what to pack for kids lunch.