Need some meal inspo to liven up the kids’ lunchboxes? Check our favourite vegan packed lunches.
Now that you’ve finally sorted uniforms, stationery, and vegan-friendly school shoes, it’s time to start thinking about what the kids will eat for lunch! Whether you’re prepping lunches for younger kids or trying to keep teens interested in their meals, our vegan lunchbox ideas have you covered. We’ve thought outside the (lunch) box to bring you some of the best tasty meal ideas to treat the kids’ taste buds.
1. Boredom-busting Bento Box
Bento boxes are great for mixing up different foods and sectioning them into mini portions for kids. They also offer a way to be adventurous with food, keeping things fun for younger children.
Some ideas to include in your Bento box are:
- Tofu cubes
- Pin-wheel falafel and hummus wraps
- Steamed broccoli and carrot batons
- Rice and edamame beans or chickpeas
- Sweet potato wedges
- Vegan sausage
- Vegan yogurt with chia seeds
- A colorful mix of berries
- Fruit kebabs
Bento boxes are easy to find online or in stores that sell home goods, so help the little ones experiment with vegan lunch ideas! If you need some inspiration, check out these Bento box ideas by Hot For Food.
2. Tasty tacos and Wraps
Tacos always seem to be a winner, even for the fussiest of children. Fill a taco or wrap of your choice (available from most supermarkets) with black beans or lentils, roasted sweet potato, lettuce, guacamole, salsa, and veggies. Serve with a side of corn on the cob to continue the Mexican vibe, and some pineapple and melon sticks for a tropical feel. Yum!
You could also use hummus, which is a versatile wrap filling. Load the wrap with other veggies like carrots, cucumber, and tomatoes to pack in the flavor. This hummus wrap recipe by Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen is a great lunchbox filler to try.
3. Pita Pizza Power
Show us a kid who doesn’t like pizza, especially for their packed lunch! These pita pizzas by Vegan Mammy are super easy to make, saving you heaps of time. Simply top a wholemeal pita bread with a spread of tomato sauce, a sprinkling of vegan cheese, and a selection of your child’s favorite toppings. Tomato, onion, roasted peppers, and sweet corn are ideal for a vegan lunch box.
Pop under the grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese has melted and place inside a lunchbox to cool. Serve with a side of hummus and veggies and a protein flapjack.
4. Cream “Cheese” Bagels
A cream cheese bagel with veggie toppings is another super easy vegan-packed lunch idea that’s popular with children of all ages. Spread a bagel of your choice with vegan cream cheese, add slices of cucumber or tomato, and sprinkle with a tiny pinch of pepper. Serve with a side of roasted chickpeas and a fruit salad.
5. Chickpea Tuna Sandwich
Our chickpea tuna sandwich recipe is quick to make and goes down a treat with kids. Just mash chickpeas with hummus or vegan mayo, celery, red onion, and seasonings. We have plenty more vegan sandwich ideas on the blog if you want to explore alternatives!
How to make a healthy, balanced vegan packed lunch for kids
Although raising vegan children is still a hot topic, kids can obtain all the nutrients they need in a well-planned vegan diet. When putting lunches together, try to include the following:
- A portion of grains such as bread, pasta, or rice
- A serving of legumes, nuts, or dairy alternatives, e.g. lentils, beans, vegan cheese cubes, vegan yogurt, peanut butter
- A generous portion of vegetables
- At least one portion of fruit
- Healthy snacks such as protein flapjacks, raw energy bars, or homemade low-sugar muffins
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PAGE UPDATED FEBRUARY 2024
