As a vegan I am constantly asked “what do you do for lunch?”  At face value this may seem like another crack at vegans, but I think that people in general struggle with lunch ideas.  Here is a list of my top five lunches.

5. Soups

A pot of soup can last for a couple of weekday lunches.  Spruce it up each day with something different, like a chunk of wholegrain bread one day (for dipping) and toss in some rice or quinoa for another day.

4. Sandwiches

Just because there is no meat does not mean you can’t enjoy an awesome sandwich!  I like to bake some bread at the beginning of the week so I can quickly whip up a sandwich any day I need it.  The bread is fresh and full of nutrients so I know I will have plenty of energy to get through the day. What do I put on the bread?  It’s actually easier to list what I do not put on sandwiches:

• meat, cheese, eggs

All kidding aside, I load my sandwiches up with roasted veggies, tofu, tempeh, tomatoes, lettuce, eggless salad (pictured above), hummus, and other combinations of raw veggies.

3. A bucket of veggies

Start the week off by cutting, slicing, or dicing your favorite veggies.  Mary and I like carrots, celery, broccoli, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and avocados. This is probably one of the cheapest and  most satisfying lunches I pack during the week.  If I do not have time to cut up all of the veggies the night before, I will stop by a market before work and pick up a bunch of pre-cut stuff.  Why is this satisfying?  You can eat as much as you want without worrying about having to skip a meal later How many meat/cheese based lunches can this same claim be made?

2. Loaded Salads

So much to talk about here with salads that I might just have to have a separate post for my top favorite salads for lunch.  Basically, use your leftover veggies and throw them on top of some lettuce, spinach, or other greens.  If that is not enough, top it with some beans, seeds, or nuts.

1. Leftovers!

My number 1 lunch that I pack is leftover dinner.  Mary and I cook at home more often than going out to eat (most weeks at least) and there is always something leftover for at least one of us to take the next day for lunch.  If you get tired of the leftovers, find a way to make it more interesting by recooking it with some other ingredients.