Lunch. It’s that awkward meal between the I-woke-up-just-for-this breakfast and the give-me-the-food dinner. It’s kind of like the middle child of the meal family.
Don’t get me wrong – I love lunch. But while I enjoy cooking a hearty breakfast and preparing a comforting dinner at the end of the day, I don’t really feel like putting that much effort into packing my lunches. 99 percent of the time, my lunches are leftovers or some random things I threw into a container and ate together. Anyone else?
My search for healthy, packable lunches began out of serious HANGER. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have class from 9-4:30, with a 1.5 hour break in between when I just chill on campus. For the first week or so of school, I ate breakfast before I went to class and didn’t eat again until I was done at 4:30. I know – THE HORROR.
Let me remind you (if you can’t tell), I’m not one of those people that “forgets to eat.” What?! Who are you? I’m already thinking about the next meal when I’m eating the current one. Needless to say, I couldn’t take not eating for that long. So, I made a plan to pack my lunch from then on!
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I found some super awesome recipes that are perfect for packing for work or school. Most of them you can prep on Sunday and enjoy for the rest of the week. All you need are some portable lunch containers and you’re good to go! I love these glass containers, these plastic containers, and, if you’re looking for a divided container, Planetbox!
I can’t wait to start making these meals to take to class with me. Enjoy these delicious vegan lunches for work or school – I know you’ll find at least one you love!
1. Spiralized Asian Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
Noodles, anyone? Get in your veggies with this Asian Quinoa Salad. It soaks up the flavor of the peanut dressing as it sits, so it’s perfect for making at the beginning of the week and having for lunch for days!
2. Thai Tempeh Buddha Bowl from Fit Mitten Kitchen
Buddha bowls are all the rage, for good reason. Just stuff a bunch of nourishing ingredients into a bowl (or container) and you’re good to go. Ashley makes it easy for you by giving you the perfect high-protein Buddha bowl formula.
3. Spicy Buffalo Chickpea Wraps from Minimalist Baker
Sick of sandwiches? Go for a wrap. The spicy chickpeas will give you a mid-day kick and will definitely fill you up. Pack this with a piece of fruit or some veggies!
4. Chickpea Salad from Oh She Glows
But if you ARE craving a good, classic sandwich, this Chickpea Salad is perfect for you. I’ve made this recipe many times, and it just gets better and better. Enjoy it with toast (I love Ezekiel bread!) or in lettuce wraps, or even on its own!
5. Chopped Kale Salad with Edamame, Carrot and Avocado from Cookie and Kate
It’s 2016, so by now you should love kale. If you’re still not sold, make this salad and I bet you’ll change your mind! Tender kale with veggies and avocado is completely irresistible and perfect for a healthy lunch.
6. Curried Chickpea Salad from Hummusapien
This. Recipe. I’ve made this a dozen times, and every time I love it more and more. I mean, first, chickpeas. Then the add-ins. Then that magnificent SAUCE. Trust me, you’ll want to lick your blender. I did.
7. Avocado Quinoa Harvest Bowl from In It For the Long Run
From the queen of fancy schmancy (but simple) bowls herself! Georgie made a beautiful quinoa bowl that I am just dying to try. Filled with lots of greens and healthy fats, this bowl will definitely keep you full throughout the day.
8. Chunky Chickpea Quinoa Tabbouleh
Ah, my first post. They grow up so fast… I’m happy this was my first post because this is one of those recipes that I actually make on a regular basis. It’s an easy one-bowl meal – chop, throw in the bowl, and mix. I love making a batch at the beginning of the week so I can munch on it for days.
9. Vegan Sushi Bowl from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
Everything you love about sushi – in a bowl! And you probably get more food, because those little rolls don’t fill anyone up anyway. Just throw all of the ingredients in a container, and you’re set for lunch!
10. Vegan Loaded Sweet Potato from The Foodie Dietitian
You had me at sweet potato. THEN with all the toppings you want? Completely drooling. Pack a sweet potato in your lunch box with a side of veggies or fruit for a seriously satisfying (and super nutritious!) lunch.
I hope you enjoyed these lunch ideas for work or school! They definitely will become part of my rotation as I try to get better at packing my lunches.
What do you like to pack for lunch?
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Lunch totally does fall to my “least” favorite meal. Just so hum-drum. Usually some of of sandwich though!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 1/29/16
Not hum-drum anymore! I do love a good classic sandwich from time to time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the lunch inspo! I’m kinda new to the meatless eating thing (okay, it’s been like 6 months since I started trying to reduce my animal product consumption) but I’m still struggling. Breakfast, desserts and snacks are pretty easy. Lunch and dinner though? I need all the help I can get. Pinning for sure 😀
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth recently posted…5 reasons you should start doing Group Fitness Classes ASAP
Anything for you 😉 These would definitely work for dinner too! I can’t wait to start meal prepping!
Wow! Great round up these all look SO good. Definitely going to have to incorporate at least one of these into our lunch rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Sam Willey recently posted…Carrot Cake Energy Bites
Thanks, Sam! I can’t wait to start making them for lunch too!
All of these lunches look crazy-delicious! My lunches are typically leftovers and random assortments of things too. Gotta implement some of these recipes so I can actually enjoy lunch 🙂
Mel @ The Refreshanista recently posted…How to Get Started With DIY Beauty Products
Already starting incorporating some of these into my meal plan for next week! Hope you enjoy them, Mel!
I’m not vegan (or a vegetarian for that matter), but #9 looks really good! i’m a huge fan of sushi, but it definitely doesn’t fill me up like I wish it would. I’ll have to try making that sometime!
Sammi the Beauty Buff recently posted…Trash Talk: Bath & Body Empties (Jan 2016)
You can definitely enjoy these lunches no matter what diet you choose to eat! 🙂 I’m super excited about that sushi bowl, too.
Man, I totally need to step up my lunch game! I want ALL of these!
rachel @ atheltic avocado recently posted…11 Unique Healthy Banana Bread Recipes
Right?! I’ve really been missing out on lunch all this time. So many yummy recipes!
Wow these look AMAZING!! I’m so happy you’re showing people that a healthy lunch doesn’t have to be boring. Awesome 🙂
Thanks so much!! No more boring lunches!
Those spicy buffalo chickpea wraps look AMAZING! Well everything looks amazing 🙂 I could eat all these right now.
Margaret @ Simple Fit Foodie recently posted…Easy Broccoli and Kale Soup
Don’t they just look incredible?? I can’t wait to start making all of these for lunch. Thanks, Margaret!
Love everything you’ve rounded up here! Thanks so much for sharing my bowl. 🙂 I haven’t had it since I made it and I’m totally missing it!! I think I need to make it this week, thanks for the inspiration 😉
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen recently posted…Vegan Peanut Butter Protein Muffins [gluten-free]
It’s on my meal plan for next week! You had me at tempeh 😉
I agree, packing lunch is a must but I’m guilty of always bringing leftovers or something frozen. I’m trying to get better about prepping at least one thing per week to have in addition to leftovers. I’m definitely pinning these to try. They look so good and healthy too! 🙂
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…Creamy Avocado Hummus
Hey, I’m a leftovers kind of girl too 🙂 This week has been SO much less stressful since I prepped my lunches Sunday. I can’t wait to make some of these in the weeks to come!
Spiralized Noodles with chickpeas!! 🙂 Sounds good to me! ALL DAY every day!
I’m pretty sure those are my two favorite things ever…Definitely could have that every day!
What a gorgeous collection of recipes! I don’t even know which one I want to eat first, so yummy!
Thank you for including my sushi bowl as well 🙂
Don’t you just want to make them all?? So yum!
Wow, these all look great!
lolobunny recently posted…Summer Munch Lunches
Thanks! I can’t wait to try them all.
Thanks for the ideas. I always find inspiration from your lunch IG photos and I’m in desperate need of quick healthy lunches.
That means so much to me, Anastasia! I hope you get to make some of these to pack for lunch.
My friends and I have recently started a #veganfriday challenge. I found these recipes and they look so good! Perfect for work, school, and home. Thanks for the beautiful pictures too…made me hungry in the morning!
Amazing! That’s a great challenge.