25 Healthy Make-Ahead Vegetarian Lunches
Can I get a TGIF?! We made it, you guys! Phew!
I know the last thing you’re probably thinking about on a Friday is packing lunch, but Sunday is only a few days away and that happens to be a great time to prep healthy food for the week. :) <that’s my please don’t hate me for being so annoying smile
Often times Brandon and I eat leftovers for lunch but there are always a few days here and there that I like to have something prepped and ready to go. Otherwise I end-up in the frozen section stocking up on a bunch of Amy’s burritos. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me some Amy’s burritos but I always feel so much better when I have some fresh produce in my diet.
With that in mind, I put together a collection of recipes that are perfect to make ahead of time and pack for lunch. There are lots of bright and colorful salads, veggie burgers (which are great to make for dinner and have leftovers for lunch), sandwiches, and quinoa recipes to choose from. I’ve made almost half of them and I can vouch that they are all delicious and keep well in the fridge for several days.
I hope you find something that inspires you to pass up the microwaveable meals! Happy weekend, friends!
Crunchy Quinoa Power Bowl with Almond Ginger Dressing
Curried Chickpea Salad from The Hummusapien
Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad from Oh She Glows
Collard Wraps with Chickpea Walnut Meat from Dishing Up the Dirt
Southwestern Chopped Salad from The Garden Grazer
Gluten-free Falafel with Yogurt Dill Sauce
Butternut Squash Falafel with Maple Tahini Sauce from She Likes Food
Vegan Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers
Thai Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers with Spicy Peanut Sauce from Oh She Glows
Beet Burgers with Yogurt Dill Sauce
Colorful Beet Salad with Carrot Quinoa & Spinach from Cookie + Kate
Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad from Ambitious Kitchen
Garden Fresh Lentil Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Soba Noodle Pine Nut Salad from Cook Nourish Bliss
Zucchini Corn and Beet Quinoa Salad from The Roasted Root
Asian Kale Salad from Two Peas and Their Pod
Radish and Cabbage Salad with Peanut Dressing from Dishing Up the Dirt
Winter Kale Salad with Shaved Fennel and Oranges
The Easiest Chopped Chickpea Greek Salad from Ambitious Kitchen
Salad in a Jar 101 from Back to Her Roots
Greek Chickpea Salad Sandwiches from She Likes Food
Barley Salad with Chickpea Feta & Lemon from Flavor the Moments
Greek Broccoli Salad from Cookie + Kate
Crispy Quinoa Cakes from Oh She Glows
We’re the same way – we almost always eat leftovers but I want to be better about having something ready to go for the other times! Love this! And of course thanks for including me :) Happy happy weekend!
YUM Sarah!!! Awesome round-up and thanks for including one of my salads! I’m all about the make-ahead meals and leftovers :) (And don’t even get me started with Amy’s burritos – it’s like we’re always prepared to feed an army with the giant stockpile stashed away in the freezer… heehee, SO GOOD!!)
These recipes are the way I like to lunch! I often make big barley, farro or quinoa salads loaded with veggies and eat them every day until their gone. I’ve pinned a bunch of these, and thanks for including my barley salad!
Haha I tried really hard not to groan when you started talking up Sunday prep. I don’t wanna! lol. I always think I’m going to do it, but then I never find the motivation come Sunday. I do love this roundup, though, and I totally agree that having a “real” meal is so much better than the frozen stuff!
All of these look SO good – I’m drooling!! I love when I come home from class and I have a lunch waiting for me. It makes my week so much easier (and tastier). Although sometimes you just NEED a frozen burrito ;)
Haha! I agree, sometimes frozen burritos just have to happen. ;)
This is such a great round-up!! I always try to bring leftovers too but sometimes we don’t have any and I start to get stressed out about what I’m going to bring for lunch the next day! After all, it’s the only thing I have to look forward to all morning long, haha!
This is such a great list! I’m so often stuck with what to make for lunch. Everything here looks so delicious!
Awesome recipes! I am going to prepare several of these dishes this weekend. I just started doing the dreaded Sunday prep. I find cooking and food prep really relaxing so I enjoy myself. The huge bonus is the time this saves me during the week. Having healthy meals and snacks for work is great, my co-workers are jealous of my food!!
It does save so much time! Thanks Lynnemarie! :)
Oh my Sarah! So much deliciousness here to choose from! I love make ahead salads and meals too. It really makes the week a bit less stressful and there’s nothing like knowing something is on the ready in the fridge, just when you need it most! Thank you for this my dear! Delicious!