Vegan packed lunch ideas?

shandyclover

As I posted elsewhere, my veggie DD19 has now gone vegan. Thanks to some tips and pointers from good people here we seem to be managing. Now I'm wondering if long time vegans have ideas for packed lunches? I am working when she sets off for college and DD19 is the least kitchen/cooking savvy, so it needs to be dead simple, also our family is operating on a very, very tight budget right now so we cannot afford vegan convenience food, so it needs to be cheap. DD19 has been taking just fruit to college but I'm sure thats not enough. Shockingly (considering hers is the biggest college in the county) there is no vegan options in the college cafeteria!

I was wondering about buying her one of those food flasks, and just cooking a bit extra for dinner - and her heating it up and taking it in the morning? does anyone have one of those - do they really keep the food hot?

Also planning to teach her on the weekend to make up a big batch of vegan scones/muffins/teacake, so they can be stored in the freezer and she can defrost as needed.

Anyways any thoughts and ideas I'd be most appreciative.

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

angel13

why not just pack some sandwiches, fruit and snacks (I am vegetarian). Also cold days veggie soup would be good and warmer days tubs of salad, pasta and rices, wraps, etc.

madvixen

I have one of those food flasks and it's a godsend. It does keep stuff warm until lunchtime. I make big batches of soup, freeze them into individual portions and then just defrost/reheat/flask as needed.

Corelli

Hi,

I've used those wide mouthed flasks but only for drinks and they certainly kept tea etc hot for a few hours, maybe longer but we never gave them a chance.

How about home made pates in rolls or sarnies? Its not an area I have much experience so all I can suggest is google and see what takes your fancy. Basically veggies, some seeds, pulses oils and flavourings seem to be the basis for all I've looked at. That would be much cheaper than bought sandwich fillings or pate. Put in with some salady bits and there you are.

Home made pasta salad/rice salad with veggies and some lentils or chick peas is a nice meal. You could make up big bowls to last a couple of days so she can put it into smaller containers herself. I'm rather fond of pumpkin seeds, red cabbage and carrot with a few raisins and a nice dressing.

She definitely needs more than fruit to keepn her going. Something that's just occured to me is using ground almonds in with your baking for more nourishment. I do it as a matter of course. You can add them to every thing, pastry, cakes, pancakes, scones and a kilo can be reasonable at Asian bulk food stores if you have access to anything like that.

If you've time you canmake home made tofu with unsweetened soya milk and epsom salts. Bring the soya milk to a boil and stir in teaspoon of the salts that you have already disolved in water. The soya milk will go cloudy and separate, separate with a thin cloth in a colander. If pressed you should be able to get it solid enough to marinade and cook but mine mostly crumbles and I use it for scrambled tofu wich is nice cold as a sandwich filler.

Scrambled tofu: mashed up tofu with a tiny bit of tumeric, anchovy free woustershire sauce, bouillon powder or similar and engevita nutritional yeast (have you discovered this yet? A wonderful source of B vits and more and great tasting) you can either fry this or heat in a microwave just as it is.

Have you tried sprouts? Again a wonderful source of fresh nutrition and tasty too and so much cheaper if you do it yourself. they can be eaten without preparation, or put in salads and sarnies.

I hope this is enough to give you some more ideas.

Doom_and_Gloom

Why not a couscous dish?
A pasta dish?
Falafel, houmous and veg wraps?

There really are loads of ideas. Look online for vegan lunchbox ideas.

Corelli

another thought: http://www.vegalicious.org/2007/04/20/vegan-tortilla-de-patatas-spanish-omelette/

I put peas in mine though, and anything else around and have never thought to add tomato to the chick pea flour (besan flour when you are off hunting for the ground almonds)

Corelli

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Why not a couscous dish?
A pasta dish?
Falafel, houmous and veg wraps?

There really are loads of ideas. Look online for vegan lunchbox ideas.

Of course! http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/ but possibly a bit too faffy around for every day in a busy family

faerie~spangles

DD19 needs to start learning to manage her dietary choice herself especially if your family are on a tight budget.

She has chosen this diet therefore it is her responsibility as a 19 year old adult to address it, and the implications it has on the rest of your family.

Memory_Girl

I agree - especially if she is heading off to study, practice now could save her a fortune in the future. Kin dof her choice - but her responsibility.

BTW Approved Foods have an offer on sprouting seeds at the mo.

BTW - Vegan food can be really cheap after a bit of organisation - I used to cook in a school that served only vegan food and it was, well cheaper than chips.

MG

nuatha

I make empanadas, basically a pasty with a bread dough instead of pastry, favourite filling is spinach, onions tomatoes and walnuts. but most things work as long as the filling isn't too moist. I freeze after allowing them to rise and bake off as I need them.
Another simple bread dough based one is Rollios, basically a pizza masquerading as a Danish pastry, roll dough to a rectangle, top with a tomato and chopped black olive sauce (or whatever you fancy) and roll up like a swiss roll. Slice and put slices on a baking tray, spiral side up, Allow to rise (half an hour) and bake (or freeze for later baking)
I do several pates with butter beans as the base/carrier, simplest one is garlic mushrooms - soak butter beans overnight, boil until soft (or use a tin) peel the outer skin. Fry mushrooms and garlic in small amount of olive oil and blend with the butter beans, season to taste.
The food vacuum flasks work well for soups and stews.
Sweet stuff would be banana and walnut cake, muffins, flapjacks etc.
I'm happy to dig out recipes if you wish.

lauracusack

Ive just turned 20 and dh and I are veggie. I generally make him food to take to work. I think your dd19 is faced with the perfect opportunity here to learn to cook. as we are on a tight budget, I tend to make hummus (I use chickpeas, peanut butter, lemon juice, garlic, cumin. Stick it all in a food processor and add oil until its as thick/thin as you want it) It keeps well in the fridge for as few days or can be frozen. We eat it in a wrap with cucumber and red pepper or just chop up some crudit!s (I like carrot) and have it as a dip.
Another great thing which can be eaten cold is the swede and potato pasties from river cottage veg. They're essentially swede, carrot and potato cut into little cubes, tossed with thyme and s&p, wrapped in rough puff (I make it with vitalite instead of butter, which is vegan).
Curried lentil pât! is a good sandwich filler. I don't have a recipe with me but rose Elliot does a good one and you could probably find that on google.
Pasta salads are another option.
I think that's all I can think of for now. Good luck