Discover 20 plant-based lunch ideas packed with flavor and nutrition—recipes perfect for kids’ and adults’ lunch boxes, meal prep, and healthy eating on the go.
Top 20 Plant-Based Lunch Ideas: Easy, Healthy & Delicious Vegan Recipes for All Ages
Looking for healthy, easy-to-pack, and satisfying plant-based lunch ideas? Whether you’re prepping meals for work, school, or just trying to eat more plants, this collection of 20 delicious vegan recipes has you covered. From hearty soups and salads to nourishing bowls, sandwiches, smoothie bowls, overnight oatmeal, and even sweet chia puddings, each recipe is nutrient-packed and designed to be the star of your lunch box. Perfect for both kids and adults, these lunches are great for meal prep and busy weekdays—without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
After all, lunchtime doesn’t have to be boring! Whether you’re brown bagging it to work or packing kids’ lunchboxes, there’s no need to face a dry, shriveled sandwich every day. Make it creative, interesting, healthy, and delicious, with my top lunch recipes. Each recipe is 100% plant-based, 100% crave-worthy, and completely portable. I have tested all of these recipes time and time again in my own kitchen. These recipes offer some creative ways to pack up lunch for a new delicious twist on to-go eating.
Eat and Live Goodness,
Sharon
Top 20 Plant-Based Lunch Recipes
Berry Bowl with Quinoa and Walnuts
This 5-minute, healthy, delicious Berry Bowl with Quinoa and Walnuts is plant-based (vegan), gluten-free, and packed with nutrition and satisfaction. Serve it as a breakfast quinoa bowl, or as a berry bowl for any meal and snack occasion.
Learn how to make this amazing pumpkin oatmeal recipe, Pumpkin Overnight Oats, which can be whipped up in minutes and stored in the fridge to grab and go the next morning for a healthy, plant-based, gluten-free breakfast.
Blueberry Buckwheat Groats Bowl
If you’re looking for a hearty healthy grain bowl filled with whole grain goodness and plenty of color and texture, this recipe for Blueberry Buckwheat Groats Bowl with Rosemary Balsamic Vinaigrette (also vegan and gluten-free) is for you!
Discover how to make this refreshing chickpea tabbouleh recipe! Packed with plant-based protein, whole grains, fresh herbs, and zesty lemon flavor, it’s a quick and easy, healthy vegan and vegetarian salad perfect for meal prep or a light lunch.
Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Mango Salad
The jewel-like black beans gleam in this crunchy, zesty vegan and gluten-free Southwest Black Bean Quinoa and Mango Salad, which is packed with nutrition and flavor. You can make this healthy salad recipe—which is a meal in bowl—without added sugars, salt, and oil. Make it in under 30 minutes, and it’s perfect for meal prep!
Picnic Potato and Corn Salad with BBQ Dressing
This rustic Picnic Potato and Corn Salad with BBQ Dressing features romaine lettuce, cubes of cooked potatoes, grilled corn (use frozen if you’re in a rush), tomatoes, cucumbers, lima or butter beans, and a vibrant homemade BBQ salad dressing, making it a gluten free vegan balanced meal in one.
Tempeh Cold Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing
This healthy, crunchy Tempeh Cold Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing showcases roasted tempeh cubes against a backdrop of soft noodles, crunchy vegetables, and a flavorful peanut dressing. This salad is vegan, and can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free rice noodles and gluten-free soy sauce.
This delicious Nicoise Salad with Tofu is inspired by the traditional Mediterranean region of Nice, France—with a healthy, light vegan twist, thanks to the addition of herbal cubes of tofu, along with classic Niçoise Salad ingredients, such as potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, olives, red onions, capers and a French vinaigrette.
This delicious, nutritious Chinese-style Crunchy Mandarin Tofu Salad is a vegan take on a classic Asian chicken salad. You’ll love this delicious, healthy mandarin salad for meal prep, lunches, picnics, parties and more!
Discover this wholesome and flavorful vegetarian and Vegan Three Sisters Chili, featuring the perfect blend of corn, beans, and squash in addition to spices. A nutritious, plant-based chili recipe ideal for comfort food lovers!
Enjoy a comforting bowl of Easy Vegan Split Pea Soup made with wholesome ingredients including split peas, vegetables, and herbs. This simple, nourishing, budget-friendly recipe is perfect for chilly days and plant-based diets.
This super easy, vegan, gluten-free Curried Lentil Quinoa soup recipe is vibrant with the addition of lentils, quinoa, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, and spices to give it a rich flavor and nutrition profile.
This Hearty Chickpea Stew is a satisfying, flavorful, and nutritious plant-based, vegan meal in a bowl. Packed with protein-rich chickpeas, healthy vegetables, and flavorful spices, it’s the perfect nourishing stew for cozy dinners or meal prep.
Vegan Seafood Salad with Hearts of Palm and Chickpeas
This vegan seafood salad features hearts of palm, chickpeas, seaweed, and a zesty dressing. Light, hearty, and full of ocean flavor—100% plant-based & gluten-free!
These Edamame Grain Vegan Burgers are so yummy and easy to make, plus they are packed with powerful nutrients. Plus, this homemade burger recipe is gluten-free and contains no added salt, oil, or sugar.
Best Sunflower Seeds Sandwich Wraps
This easy, 6-ingredient, 5-minute plant-based Best Sunflower Seeds Sandwich Wraps recipe is filled with the goodness of sunflower seeds, dried cherries, raisins, and sprouts.
Create the classic vegan BLTA Sandwich—bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado—with this super easy 5-minute, healthy, yummy recipe.
Chia Seed Pudding with Berries
Looking for a delicious, healthy, vegan, gluten-free chia seed pudding recipe? Then you must check out this 4-ingredient recipe for Chia Seed Pudding with Berries for a yummy, nutrition-packed dessert or snack that’s healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast too.
Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl
The perfect pairing of peanut butter and bananas powers this super easy, healthy, delicious Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl. With no added sugars, oils, or salts, this gluten free vegan smoothie bowl can be prepared in only 10 minutes with 8 ingredients.
Pack up this Green Goddess Grain Bowl in an airtight container to harness the star nutrition power of whole grain sorghum and beans with cool green veggies, such as arugula, avocados, cucumbers, asparagus, and pumpkin seeds and a green goddess dressing.
Easy Chocolate Chia Pudding with Strawberries
With only 7 ingredients, you can make up individual, portable servings of this uber-healthy, vegan recipe for Chia Pudding with Strawberries in under 10 minutes. With just a touch of maple syrup for sweetener and no added oils, this pudding relies upon chia seeds to add a creamy, thickness—and a dose of healthy nutrition.
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