I think everyone here is well aware that I like to make things simple and easy for myself in the kitchen. You won’t find any extravagant recipes here, for the most part. The same is true when it comes to serving my plant-based toddler. We like to keep meals simple with vegetables as the star of most lunches. Add a touch of protein into the mix and a healthy grain, and that’s pretty much what we have going on!
I have been blessed with a good eater, so if your child is picky, I apologize if the below does not go over well with him or her. But worth a shot, right? These lunch ideas are too easy to not give a try.
#1: Mashed Bean Salad Sandwich
I use either chickpeas, cannellini, or white beans for this. Simply mashed in a bowl and add a dollop of vegan mayo. To get in some extra veggies, I like to dice up some broccoli and tomato (and by dice, I mean really dice). She doesn’t even notice! Serve on your choice of bread and pick a couple sides. Willow really likes a side of grapes and sometimes another veggie, like mushrooms (shown above) or sweet potato fries. I make the fries on the weekend so I simply heat a few up quickly.
#2: Mashed Avocado Quesadilla
Let’s hear it for the healthy fats. Real easy. Just grab your favorite tortilla and mash up some avocado. A bit of lime or lemon juice and a dash of nutritional yeast. Serve with a side of veggie and/or fruit. If I give her this for lunch, I make sure that dinner is more protein-focused.
#3: PB&J
It’s tried and true for a reason. A good ‘ol peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich is always welcomed by Willow. I like to switch things up, too. Sometimes it’s almond butter and blackberry jam. Sometimes it’s sunflower seed butter and strawberry jam. Anything goes, right? Pick a nut butter and pick a jam. Serve with a side of veggies!
#4: Pasta with Veggies + Earth Balance
It takes no time to boil a bit of pasta and toss with some veggies, earth balance butter, salt, and pepper. Serve with a side of veggies or fruit (above Willow has roasted red peppers and sweet potatoes).
#5: Vegan Cream Cheese + Tomato Sandwich/Sticks
Sometimes a sandwich, sometimes sticks. But this is always a hit. I toast bread and use Tofutti cream cheese. Sometimes we top with tomatoes or sometimes cucumber or even olives. But whatever it is, Willow seems to really enjoy. Serve with a side of veggies or fruit. Again, if this ends up being lunch, I focus on protein during breakfast or dinner.
I hope that the above gave you some inspiration for your own toddler’s lunch plans. I tend to stick to simple sandwich-type meals during lunch to keep it easy and not overwhelming. Plus, she gets in a good dose of veggies and fruit. Her dinners are different and a bit more “sophisticated”, since she eats whatever we are eating. I’ll compile our favorite easy and realistic dinners for her soon. Be on the look-out for it, if you are interested! And if you are looking for breakfast ideas, I’ve covered some here.
Thanks for reading, friends. xx bianca
