Packed lunch salad or other ideas for a vegetarian

[GMH1974]

I find it really difficult to think of interesting, filling but healthy things to take in my work lunchbox week in week out. I need to prepare things in advance and have them last 2-3 days to be worth the effort. I am allergic to pine nuts and hate eggs. I eat anything else vegetarian. Thank you.

I do a Caprese salad sometimes, it only takes a few minutes to prepare and put in a box. Or I do a cous-cous salad which will keep in a bowl in the fridge for a few days. Ditto pasta/pesto with some veg.

Spelt with chickpeas, feta, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, chopped fresh herbs. You can also use cous cous but spelt I think is nicer. I just dress with olive oil and a pinch of salt but lemon juice would work as well.

rice salad with vinaigrette, green lentils or chickpeas, loads of crunchy veg (carrots, cucumber, radishes etc.), I quite often chuck in a handful of sunflower seeds too.

left over cold ravioli with chopped salad veg added, maybe the odd bit of mozzarella or other cheese to bulk it out, dressed just in olive oil.

potato salad with yogurt dressing, I’ve done mine with smoked tofu instead of egg and it was a lot nicer. Again with spring onion, crunchy carrot etc to give a bit of bite.

Grated carrot & apple salad with sultanas and nuts, and home made vinaigrette.

I’m not vegetarian but mostly eat veggie lunches. Quinoa mixed with anything in the salad drawers plus some feta/goats cheese and olives is one of my favourite quick lunches. Dressings are really important imo as it has the potential to life something that could be quite bland (depending on what’s in the fridge) into something really tasty.

Following with interest. I do a salad made up of roasted sweet potatoes, rocket, cherry tomatoes and fried halloumi with a dressing. You can add avocado as well but it's not necessary as it's a hefty salad even without.

Mixed bean salad in a vinaigrette lasts well for a few days. Roasted vegetables do too. Potato salad also good.

We tend to have a selection of chuck it in options, like the roast veg, or some prepped cous cous, plus hummus or cheese, then add some leaves on the day to a selection. Keeps it slightly different depending on what you add.

I make a pan of soup on a Sunday and have with various accompaniments over a week or freeze some for variety. Also take left over curry, pasta, chilli etc. Sometimes cheese and crackers. I never have sandwiches.

I take my salad in a mason jar, there are probably lots of good examples on Pinterest. I quite often use leftovers from dinner as the base but then add a layer of salad. Food keeps well in glass jars and you layer it in a way where the wet stuff is at the bottom so it doesn't go soggy. I think looking appealing makes them taste nicer too!

I've just quickly googled and found this site with ideas www.veggiesdontbite.com/healthy-salad-in-a-jar-recipes/

Thank you for the ideas

I often add some plain or pesto cold pasta or potato salad to bulk up lunch. So maybe avocado, mozzarella ball or feta, cucumber, tomato, leaves, sweetcorn then pesto pasta. If having plain pasta I'd add some coleslaw and maybe a bit of grated cheddar . Alternatively a pitta bread on the side: just have a decent amount of ingredients and throw sine rings together. I don't make recipe salads or add dressings as it would go soggy . Going in to winter I often also bring left over quiche with beans and baby potatoes or bake an extra potato and heat that up in the microwave the next day with preferred toppings and maybe a little side salad

Now that the weather's colder, I'm making instantish noodle soup. A tablespoon each of soy sauce, sriracha and lime juice, a little bit of ginger, cubes of tofu, some noodles and the veg of your choice. Last week, I had sweetcorn, red pepper, mushrooms, spinach, spring onion and coriander.

I make it in a jar and add hot water at lunchtime. It usually needs a couple of minutes in the microwave if it's been in the fridge all morning.

I do alot of stuff that's already been mentioned, soup and instant noodles are my favourite especially this time of year.

Also a big fan of falafel with sliced pitta, hummus, olives, feta and salad , I usually have a tahini dressing.

Mediterranean orzo and chickpea salad .

Burrito bowls.

Lookup Buddha bowls and you'll get lots of inspiration.

I do soups. I batch cook several of them, freeze them and have a different one every day.

Lots of great ideas!

I do a Mexican rice and portion it off into glass dishes while hot so it's self sealing. This can be eaten hot or cold and easily lasts 4 days.

Another easy breakfast/ lunch a layer of porridge oats, topped with frozen berries and a layer of yoghurt (I use plain).

I use shop bought falafel and either have a salad or wraps with lettuce, pickles, cucumber etc. also Greek salad with feta, and flatbreads on the side. I usually make double dinner receipes and microwave leftovers for lunch.

Thank you for that link @greenmarsupial It's not my thread but needed a bit of lunch inspiration! 😊

Pan fry diced aubergine, red onion, courgette, cherry tomatoes and a glug of olive oil. Season well and freeze in portions - defrosts really well.
I have this with mixed salad leaves, lovely chunky hummus and chipotle hot sauce with any kind of nice bread (sourdough, pitta etc). Takes 30min to make 6 portions and 3min to assemble in lunchbox.

Do you have any time and storage space for simple meal prep?

I do a couscous salad every week. Boil some stock and add whatever you want to it. You can keep it simple or add any flavours you like: spices, chilli, herbs, harissa, tomato puree, garlic. Anything! Then just pour it over the couscous and cover for 5 mins.

While you do that, chop any salad veggies you have: red onion, tomato, cucumber, peppers. You can add any herbs here too. Maybe some pomegranate seeds. But anything you want.

You can mix any protein in there. Tinned tuna? Or some cooked chicken, or ham. Again, whatever you like.

Mix it all together and it'll keep for a few days. You can make it as simple/cheap/extravagant as you want and it's very healthy and filling.

I like a bed of leaves in a glass lunch box and then add a big spoonful of shop bought coleslaw to one end, one of potato salad at the other end, then in the middle add mixed beans, tinned sweetcorn, spring onions and avocado.

I also like a bed of rocket, with puy lentils (packet), griddle asparagus, halloumi and courgette and balsamic dressing.

And chopped pear, walnuts and blue cheese on a bed of rocket.