It is important to make sure variety in your vegan diet to make sure you are getting all the right nutrients, to keep you motivated and of course to enjoy your food. Many people following a vegan diet get stuck in a rut when it comes to preparing their lunches. What they may not realize is that there are many very easy and healthy Vegan lunch ideas and recipes await you, if you’re just willing to put a little effort in preparing them!
Listed below are 5 vegan food ideas and recipes for your lunch.
Veggie Burger/Lentil Burger
Assembling a vegetarian or lentil burger is a healthy, easy and super delicious vegan lunch idea. Find a brand of vegan empanadas that you like and cook the empanadas in a skillet or in the oven according to the package directions. Meanwhile, open the bun and add pesto, hummus, or guacamole to the bottom. Add your cooked burger to the bun and top with some sliced tomato, grated beets and carrots, and sliced pineapple. And voila, it’s complete!
Vegan Mediterranean Pizza
This is a very easy Vegan lunch to prepare. You can do it the night before or that same day if you are at home. Purchase a vegan pizza crust and vegan tomato paste at your local health store. Brush your pizza base with the tomato paste (or just olive oil gold pesto if you don’t have vegan tomato paste). Add a few olives, sundried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes (halved), sliced mushrooms, some thinly sliced red onion, and a few tablespoons of pesto. You can then grate some vegan cheese on top or make a “white sauce”. To make your white sauce, add 1 Tbsp. flour and 1 tbsp. olive oil to a hot skillet, and cook the mixture for about 30 seconds. Next, add some sea salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Lastly, add rice or soy milk. slowly to the mixture, little by little, stirring constantly. When desired thickness has been achieved, remove from heat and pour over your pizza. Cook your pizza in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes.
Pita bread with falafel dip and hummus
Pick up some pita wraps and some falafel mix at the grocery or health food store. Prepare and fry your falafel patties according to package directions, remove from heat, and set aside. Spread some vegan hummus (from the supermarket or do it yourself) on the inside of your pita bread, on both sides. Add some sliced onion, chopped lettuce, parsley, grated carrot, or whatever salad ingredients you fancy. Place 2-3 falafel patties inside your pita bread and gently spread them apart with a fork. Add salt and pepper. Enjoy.
Cold cut or ‘bacon’ sandwich with salad
Vegan brands of fake meat from supermarkets and health food stores have improved dramatically in flavor and ingredients in recent years. What used to taste bland and unappetizing now has the potential to taste gourmet and enjoyable. Mock meats, sausages, and deli meats now feature strong flavors (meaning not just soy, wheat, and pea protein!) including specialty grains (quinoa, kamut), lentils, chickpeas, beans, herbs, and spices.
Choose your favorite fake meat or cook your own fake bacon. Choose your vegan bagel, wrap or bread and add your choice of the following gourmet ingredients: olives, sundried tomatoes, mustard, hummus, pesto, avocado, guacamole, lettuce or spinach, grated carrot, beetroot, corn, sliced onion, vegan cheese, fresh or dried herbs, and of course, freshly ground pepper and sea salt
Peanut butter and jelly
Choose your favorite vegan bread, wrap, or roll, and top with a natural peanut butter spread and a natural jam of your choice! Hey, who said adults can’t enjoy a peanut butter sandwich?
As you can see, there are many easy vegan lunch ideas that you can make yourself without much hassle. The above lunch recipes are super easy, and even the hobbyist vegan cook can make them. Remember, vegan food does No has to be boring – so find some delicious recipes and Be creative!