Thermos - for my youngest we aren't veg but I do a lot of leftovers in a thermos for her, and most are veg or easily veg.

rice, avocado, beans, grated cheddar cheese, yumm sauce if you have that there (is it just a west coast thing?), plus whatever veg your kid likes or what you have handy (tomato, cilantro for mine...olives maybe)

Mac n cheese

Bean chili leftovers

Cold items: PBJ
caprese salad
Hummus and pita
pesto angel hair noodles with cherry tomato (egg noodles have more protein fyi) this is good cold
homemade "lunchable" ie crackers, cheese, fruit
Cold leftover pizza slice

Bagel with cream cheese and arugula

Mac & Cheese - I make it in the morning and toss in a thermos. stays warm till lunch.

PB&J

But - the most common: dinner leftovers. Especially if it was Indian and includes naan.

Cold lunches we do PBJ or Nutella sandwiches, cheese and crackers as the main with fruit and chips or similar as well. Sometimes she takes a granola bar with a yogurt and fruit.

She takes hot lunches in a Thermos twice a week, Mac n cheese balls from Trader Joe’s are a favorite, ramen, pasta with pesto sauce.
Fake chicken nuggets or fish nuggets.

My young kid went to a preachool that asked for vegetarian lunches (basic kosher) and it was actually pretty easy. Pita and hummus, cheese sandwiches, bean quesadillas, pizza rolls (pizza with whatever toppins you want but basically rolled up like a cinnamon roll). I'd also sometimes pack leftovers from the dinner days we did tofu stir fry, chickpea curry, black beans and rice or tortellini.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have you survived to date without starving?

Sandwich: PB&J or cheese, tofu or hummus.

Tofu. Crudite. Crackers/chips. Fruit.

What is wrong with you? And since you’re such a smart@$$ let me point out that PB&J is a ridiculously stupid suggestion for school lunch these days, since so many schools forbid peanuts (even middle and high schools).

Really? Ms and hs? Maybe some elementary schools have peanut free tables but most publics don’t ban peanut butter.

And just sub sunbutter if you need to...no reason to get angry.

My kid eats a “main” with sides of veggies and fruit every day. Some mains she likes:

Black bean quesadilla or burrito
Sunbutter and jelly sandwich
Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich
Bagel with cream cheese
Salad with a grain (quinoa, pearl couscous or farro), cheese, beans, and different veggies
Pizza- either homemade or leftover from takeout
Black bean burger

My vegetarian kid takes sun butter and jelly, yogurt parfaits, leftover pasta in a thermos, cream cheese on bagels.

I’ve been a vegetarian for 30 years and I would add to that - leftovers, any Indian food, any Tex Mex food (rice, beans, salsa, cheese), salads, soups. It’s really not hard to be a vegetarian, though I am also gluten free.

Pesto tortellini

We're not vegetarian, but some things my kids like for lunch that would work for a vegetarian:

Mac & cheese in a thermos, with fruit and chips

Crackers and cheese, carrot sticks, popcorn, cookies

Pasta salad with veggies and cheese

Bean and cheese quesadillas, wrapped in foil (they're fine at room temperature)

Anonymous wrote:Don't the boiled eggs stink?

Only if you overcook them.

Don't the boiled eggs stink?

I usually pack wegmans sliced cheese bread or chopped veggie fried egg sandwich, so I don’t need to add ice pack to keep fresh ( I forgot from time to time), paired with fresh fruit. Sometimes left over into thermos too but kids would complain have no time to eat or prefer bread.

My kids take hot leftovers (pasta, rice + Indian veggies, soup) in a thermos.

Anonymous wrote:My kid likes

Black beans and rice, cheese stick, fruit

Cheese sandwich, hummus with carrots, fruit

Cheese sandwich, lentil and mango salad, fruit

Sun butter sandwich, yogurt, fruit, sliced cucumbers

Egg salad sandwich, baby bell, red pepper slices, fruit

“Pizza pasta salad” with tofu ham and cheese and pineapple, edamame, fruit

(Mix and match, add cookies on occasion)

These sound exactly like the lunches I take to work every day.

nut and cheese packs with a side of yogurt