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Vegetarian school lunch ideas with more protein beyond sandwiches?

58 replies

Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:03

I need some ideas please for kids school lunches.. we are vegetarian can have eggs and dairy, no fish or meat. I usually do sandwiches need some inspiration. I need more protein ideas please. Would an omelette wrap work well? Any tips on ensuring the wrap doesnt go soggy? How would you store it in the lunchbox.. any other ideas please? I can't use peanut butter as it is a nut free school. Sandwich filler ideas also welcome. Tia

OP posts:
Bushmillsbabe · 24/03/2026 22:05

Spanish omelette is a good lunch box option
Cheesey pasta in a heated mini flask

PurpleThistle7 · 24/03/2026 22:05

Hard boiled eggs, hummus with anything, cheese and crackers… would you use a flash to send soup or similar?

Lmnop22 · 24/03/2026 22:08

Hummus and veg wrap

Haloumi wrap

Avocado, tomato and cucumber sandwich

Brie and jam/chutney sandwich

Falafel and goats cheese wrap

Cheese and tomato toastie

Melarus · 24/03/2026 22:14

How old are the kids? Mine are teens and they sometimes have...

Itsu gyoza, cooked from frozen, with a splash of soy sauce

Linda McCartney veg sausage rolls, cooked from frozen in the morning

Greek salad with feta

Veg samosa with paneer

Korean "drug eggs" (not as bad as they sound!)

Topbird29 · 24/03/2026 22:14

Falafel and dip
Mixed bean pasta or rice salad
Courgette and cheese muffins (am sure these are a thing)
Cold Spanish omelette- can add whatever veggies wanted in the omlette - sweetcorn, green beans, peppers, new potato slices
Cheese scones with something

Talkingfrog · 24/03/2026 22:15

DC sometimes took
Quiche
Eggs beaten, to which I had added some cheese, sweetcorn and onion. They were cooked in cup cake cases in the oven.

Sometimes would add a quorn scotch egg, sausage or mini sausage roll with the sandwich .

They didn't like pasta in sauce otherwise I would have used that as an option some days.

Teaandwater · 24/03/2026 22:16

Cheddar and spinach muffins
Cheese and tomatoe muffins

CoffeeBeansGalore · 24/03/2026 22:16

Cheese & onion quiche

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/03/2026 22:16

My dd is veggie and she normally takes pasta and pesto with some chickpeas mixed in.

Or she’ll take leftover curry, soup, pasta with veggie bolognese, bean chilli or whatever we’ve had the night before.

We have those insulated food pots which are good.

Rituelec · 24/03/2026 22:17

Mine takes a protein yoghurt in a pouch with her lunch now

Endoadnowarrior · 24/03/2026 22:17

Wraps/bagels/flatbreads that have extra protein in?
Warburtons branded or Aldi have their own versions of these.

Blueartichoke · 24/03/2026 22:18

Cheese and veg pasta bake or Mediterranean pasta orzo with feta my vegetarian teen’s love both instead of sandwiches. Why more protein? Just curious both my teens have been vegetarian since toddlers and they have had very similar lunches to any other child for example cheese and tomato sandwiches and crisps fruit or veg sticks and sweet treat?

Strandlover · 24/03/2026 22:20

A slice of quiche
Salads made with one or more of tofu, pulses and quinoa
Coronation chickpea is a great veggie vegan sandwich filling. Or you can easily can make hummus-type spreads with all kinds of beans. Try butter beans mashed with olive oil, lemon zest & juice, chopped rosemary and salt.

FasterMichelin · 24/03/2026 22:22

Greek yoghurt. With honey, jam or fruit.

Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:33

PurpleThistle7 · 24/03/2026 22:05

Hard boiled eggs, hummus with anything, cheese and crackers… would you use a flash to send soup or similar?

Thank you. Yes I have one of those heated thermos for lunch

OP posts:
Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:34

Melarus · 24/03/2026 22:14

How old are the kids? Mine are teens and they sometimes have...

Itsu gyoza, cooked from frozen, with a splash of soy sauce

Linda McCartney veg sausage rolls, cooked from frozen in the morning

Greek salad with feta

Veg samosa with paneer

Korean "drug eggs" (not as bad as they sound!)

Thank you. Mine are 10, 7 and 3

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 24/03/2026 22:35

What about pizza roll ups, or mini vegetable quiche?? Soup in a flask?? Chinese style noodle salad??

Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:35

Topbird29 · 24/03/2026 22:14

Falafel and dip
Mixed bean pasta or rice salad
Courgette and cheese muffins (am sure these are a thing)
Cold Spanish omelette- can add whatever veggies wanted in the omlette - sweetcorn, green beans, peppers, new potato slices
Cheese scones with something

Thanks, how would I store the omelette safely so it doesnt go off in the day?

OP posts:
Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:36

Talkingfrog · 24/03/2026 22:15

DC sometimes took
Quiche
Eggs beaten, to which I had added some cheese, sweetcorn and onion. They were cooked in cup cake cases in the oven.

Sometimes would add a quorn scotch egg, sausage or mini sausage roll with the sandwich .

They didn't like pasta in sauce otherwise I would have used that as an option some days.

Thanks how did you store the egg muffins so they didn't go off during the school day?

OP posts:
Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:38

Blueartichoke · 24/03/2026 22:18

Cheese and veg pasta bake or Mediterranean pasta orzo with feta my vegetarian teen’s love both instead of sandwiches. Why more protein? Just curious both my teens have been vegetarian since toddlers and they have had very similar lunches to any other child for example cheese and tomato sandwiches and crisps fruit or veg sticks and sweet treat?

Thanks protein to help them grow really especially as vegetarians and not having meat.

OP posts:
Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:39

shellyleppard · 24/03/2026 22:35

What about pizza roll ups, or mini vegetable quiche?? Soup in a flask?? Chinese style noodle salad??

How would I store the quiche so it doesnt go off during the day? That's my only concern with egg but would love to do more egg related lunches

OP posts:
Blueartichoke · 24/03/2026 22:44

Advice5 · 24/03/2026 22:38

Thanks protein to help them grow really especially as vegetarians and not having meat.

Don’t panic about the protein helps them grown rhetoric! I’ve been vegetarian since 12 and my teen DS’s since toddlers who are both now over 6ft (my youngest is 14) unless you starve your kids their grown is determined by genes, not trying to be difficult but reassure you after being told for many years myself I was stunting myself and my kids!

Leeds2 · 24/03/2026 22:50

Veggie sausages with a dip
Veggie samosas.
Cheese & Onion/Cheese & Tomato/Cheese & Spinach quiche.
Falafals.
Margarita pizza.
Stuffed tomatoes or peppers.

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