Five Vegan Lunch Ideas for Kids

Looking for a creative and appealing way to fuel your kids for all their work and play? Try boosting their lunch game. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared that “improving access to healthy foods is linked to healthier students whom are also better learners” and “lack of adequate consumption of specific foods, such as fruits or vegetables, is associated with lower grades among students.”

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as other professional organizations like the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, agree that a properly planned vegetarian or vegan diet can meet all nutrition needs for every part of the lifecycle: from pregnancy to infancy to older adulthood. A dietary pattern with carefully curated plant foods may reduce risk of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and some cancers.

Vegan Recipes for Kids

Here are our top picks for fun, nutritious vegan lunches that kids can help prepare:

Bento Box

This Japanese-inspired container is a functional way of packing single-portioned lunchtime basics. Bento box fanatics sometimes even shape food into animals or shapes for a midday surprise. How neat would it be for your child to open up their lunchbox and see grizzly bears made from crackers + almond butter + blueberries + Cheerios or a butterfly made from a bag stuffed with grapes + trail mix and clipped off with a clothespin? Or keep it simple: we won’t judge if this means adding last night’s leftover dinner ingredients to individual compartments in the box to have your child fork through it as they please.

Grain Bowl

What’s better than a plant-based bowl with a little bit of all your child’s favorites? Not much. Grain Bowls offer room for creativity through combining a grain + veggie + protein + sauce. Maybe your child doesn’t care for black beans but enjoys tofu? Or perhaps they aren’t into rice and broccoli, but loves noodles and carrots? Make it their way then drizzle a little tahini dressing or cashew sauce on top to make it fancy.

Pita Pizza

Grab a whole-wheat pita, smear on tomato sauce, and add chopped onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, meatless crumbles and nutritional yeast. Cool parent award: place each of the toppings in their own container for kiddo to layer at their own discretion! Add a fruit bowl on the side to check-off every food group with this meal.

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Drain canned chickpeas and smash with diced celery, onion, pickles and even sunflower seeds if you’re feeling crazy. Combine this with a light mixture of vegan mayo + dill + mustard. Spread this protein packed mixture between two slices of hearty whole-grain toast for a delicious sandwich!

Peanut Butter Banana Pinwheels

Lay out a whole-grain tortilla and spread on some peanut butter. Add sliced bananas, granola, chopped walnuts and a pinch or two or three of cinnamon. Roll it and cut into 1-inch pieces that resemble sushi!

Explore More Options

Will you be trying any of these fruit and vegetable packed recipes? You can explore more plant-based options and recipes on our site. If you are interested in learning more about eating plant based, nutrition for your kids or family, or have any other nutrition concerns or questions, schedule an appointment with a Kroger Health Dietitian!

_{Disclaimer: This information is educational only and is not meant to provide healthcare recommendations. Please see a healthcare provider.}