Lunch is the most hated meal that I have to prepare and make at home. Now that our little monster is in Junior Kindergarten we have to send her to school with lunch everyday. Our home is a meat-free zone and while Lilly eats meat when she is not at home her lunches are vegetarian. Here are a few simple lunch ideas for you and your children!
1. Nut-Butter or Nut-Alternative Butter and Jam Wraps.
This is always a last resort for us as Lilly doesn’t love it but who can resist a little PB and J in their live? We use whole wheat wraps from the grocery store. Spread PB on first and then jam on top. Roll and then cut into small pieces. This works perfect for lunch boxes or as part of there plate at home.
2. Tofu Fingers
This one takes a little prep but I will usually make extra tofu at dinner and then Lilly will eat it cold the next day in her lunch.
Slice the tofu (always use extra firm) into half, like you are cutting a deck of cards (you want 2 steak like pieces). I then wrap it in a tea towel on the counter and place a heavy frying pan on top. Pre Heat your oven to 375 degrees.
Cut tofu into strips (just like a finger)! This is your time to season it however you like. I usually season with salt, pepper, and garlic season. Make sure the tofu is fully covered.
Heat a frying pan on medium heat with a little oil of your choice (we use Extra Virgin Olive Oil), add the tofu when the pan gets hot. Just allowing the tofu to get brown on each side. We aren’t fully cooking the tofu.
Once brown add place the tofu on a baking sheet and add to the oven for 15 minutes.
This will give you the crispest tofu fingers. You can eat it with your faviourite dipping sauce or we like to put it on rice and stir fry at dinner time.
3. Sweet Peas and Black Beans
Green Peas are high in protein and fibre, low in fat and cholesterol and they taste great! You can buy them frozen, canned or fresh and they make the perfect finger food.
Black beans are also high in protein and fibre. You can buy them dried and canned. I usually have a container of pre-cooked beans (from dried) in the freezer. Lilly prefers hers from the can. Either way they are delicious. You can add them to a salad or pop them into your mouth like candy. They make for a simpe and easy lunch idea!H
4. Hummus and pita
In my almost 2 years of being vegetarian I still haven’t tried to make hummus myself. Chickpeas are a good source of protein and help you stay fuller longer. Pair the dip with pitas and veg and you have the perfect lunch. Hummus comes in all different flavours. Our favourite is roasted onion.
Do you have a recipe you would like us to try? Leave it below so we can try to make it at home! We would love to try it!