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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
Original poster
Advice5 · 26/03/2026 10:18

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 24/03/2026 22:58

Look up how much protein children of their ages actually need. It's nowhere near what an adult needs.

You could always up the protein at breakfast and dinner to take the stress out of lunch.

Thick Greek yoghurt is high in protein - I serve it with fruit eg berries to make it sweet.

I also make higher protein and fibre sweet snacks like flapjacks with hemp and seeds, muffins with Greek yoghurt in etc.

My DC will eat tofu IF prepared in certain ways. Could you consider that?

We typically do egg, cheese, hummus, tofu sandwich / wraps, 5th day might be a repeat of one of those or it could be eg minestrone or lentil soup and crackers, or maybe pasta and sauce. Yes they eat a lot of wheat, but they need the carbs and don't like rice or cold potatoes.

Ok thank you. How do you store the egg in their packed lunches so it doesn't go off. Can you advise how you made the Flapjacks sounds nice!

OP posts:
Original poster
Advice5 · 26/03/2026 10:21

Keepingthingsinteresting · 24/03/2026 23:11

It’s really not a problem @Advice5 . I make my Spanish omelette or egg muffins on a Sunday afternoon, take them out of the fridge each morning and put wrapped in an insulated lunchbox and they are fine all week.

my egg muffins include eggs and egg whites from a packet, a pot of cottage cheese, some porridge oats & baking powder then whatever veg I have on hand sautéed down plus grated cheese then more cheese and halved cherry tomato on top. Cottagw cheese and eggs whites up the protein if your really worried about it but I’ve been veggie since early teens & never had an issue but weight training now so trying to up mine.

As an alternative do tofu deli meat, slice very thinly extra firm tofu (use a peeler) stick in a pan with stock, spices and nooch (more protein) and cook down in a large pan gently til all liquid absorbed and you can in sandwiches. Grated tofu with spices, cornstarch and a bit of oil also roasts up to a nice, crunchy topping for salads.

Edited
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Thanks that sounds great. Which brand of tofu do you use? The one I use has water in the pack and it won't peel just break i think lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Advice5 · 26/03/2026 10:24

JustSawJohnny · 25/03/2026 00:26

Wraps made from grated carrot & tinned corn, topped with grated mozzerella and baked, then spread with cream cheese and roasted, spiced veggies.

Falafel and giant couscous with humus and flatbread.

A mixed bean, veggie or egg salad with nachos to scoop it up with.

Veggie sushi or a rice bowl with satay sauce.

Daal or a bean curry with chapatis.

Veggie chilli and brown rice with nachos and sour cream.

Baked beans and chunks or veggie sausage with cold toast squares.

My son loved days when he has his chubby food flask of sausage and beans!

How do you store the chapattis as imagine they may go hard in a lunchbag?

OP posts:
Original poster
Advice5 · 26/03/2026 10:26

StonwEd · 25/03/2026 05:57

My favorite veggie wrap which thanks to this thread I'm going to make for lunch this week is hummus, beetroot, sweetcorn and spring onion. Homemade hummus for the win! Black pepper essential.

Do you have a recipe for the houmous?

OP posts:
SugarPuffSandwiches · 26/03/2026 10:28

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.

Great ideas but just wanted to point out that pesto usually has nuts in and OP said that it's a nut free school 🙂

BillieWiper · 26/03/2026 10:41

itsthetea · 26/03/2026 09:58

Would you use one wrap or two?

2 slices of bread is much more protein and fibre than one wrap and I normally see people eat one wrap or 2 slices of bread in they lunch

One wrap is around the same calories as two slices of bread? The big ones I think are about 220? Though no harm in having two if you're hungry!

swifttara · 26/03/2026 11:10

SugarPuffSandwiches · 26/03/2026 10:28

Great ideas but just wanted to point out that pesto usually has nuts in and OP said that it's a nut free school 🙂

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I checked with our school and apparently pine nuts are ok - more of a seed than a nut? But appreciate not all policies will be the same.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 26/03/2026 22:08

Advice5 · 26/03/2026 10:21

Thanks that sounds great. Which brand of tofu do you use? The one I use has water in the pack and it won't peel just break i think lol

Show quote history

I use tofoo- it’s more expensive but better for stuff like that as it’s extra, extra firm. The smoked one is really nice if they like that sort of flavour.

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