Need some ideas for a vegetarian packed lunch

[Mathematician]

Up until now I've been devouring pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, diet Green Tea, and carrots. However, the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwhich has too much calories (400 yuck) and fat (20 grams) for my taste, and the pretzels don't really add anything to my diet except salt.

I was wondering if someone could think up a main "dish" for lunch that could be packed every day, as well as something to replace the pretzels.

 

[Mike182]

to repace the pretzel, oat or fruit bars! or even... just fruit

i can't think of any main dishes off hand... a basic tomato pasta salad?

how about a frech stick and a jar of chocolate spread? :drool:

 

[lilithu]

Up until now I've been devouring pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, diet Green Tea, and carrots. However, the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwhich has too much calories (400 yuck) and fat (20 grams) for my taste, and the pretzels don't really add anything to my diet except salt.

I was wondering if someone could think up a main "dish" for lunch that could be packed every day, as well as something to replace the pretzels.

Man, too many carbs!

First off, for those days when you feel like having peanut butter and such, may I suggest either cashewbutter or almondbutter. They still have a lot of calories but the fat is good fat, lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol.

Second, have you tried hummus with fresh veggies?

I'm also a big fan of cucumber, sprout and lowfat cream cheese sandwiches.

Do you have access to a microwave?

 

[Mike182]

Do you have access to a microwave?

you are a genious! french stick with HOT chocolate spread!!! :woohoo:

 

[Tigress]

Up until now I've been devouring pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, diet Green Tea, and carrots. However, the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwhich has too much calories (400 yuck) and fat (20 grams) for my taste, and the pretzels don't really add anything to my diet except salt.

I was wondering if someone could think up a main "dish" for lunch that could be packed every day, as well as something to replace the pretzels.

One of the best sites for this is the Vegan Lunch Box. Jennifer, the webmistress, is simply amazing--her ideas seem endless. Even if you're not comfortable going completely vegan, you can always supplement certain things with the real deal. :yes:

 

[porkchop]

i used to work for Holland and Barrett, a health store which got taken over by Americans some years back, so im guessing you'd have one over there, or a GNC?
Anyway, they sell gorgeous vegetarian sos rolls and scotch-style eggs, also pork-less pies (with no trans fats) and gorgeous pasties. Im not even a vegetarian, but i cant get enough of the stuff!
Other than that, i would go with a pitta bread or a wrap with tons of salad and cheese or you can get vegetarian sandwhich meat form H&B too. They trained me too well, im still floggin' the stuff!!!

 

[Dr. Nosophoros]

You are all a bunch of sick people, "Diet" green tea- what the hell is that? I thought green tea was just dried green tea and water, I think that is as diet as you can get. Nevertheless, try some Kimchee on rice, if you eat fish put some fish meat on it with Muoc maam (tastes a lot better than it smells, quite complex but mild overall) or plain old soy sauce.

No dig at you but I'd say that any man with any noticeable muscle on their bodies would shrivel up like a raisin with a diet of veggies and veggie protein only. Unless you are a very slight individual you got to have real animal protein in there somewhere or you are starving your muscle, that isn't healthy.

 

[Hema]

No dig at you but I'd say that any man with any noticeable muscle on their bodies would shrivel up like a raisin with a diet of veggies and veggie protein only. Unless you are a very slight individual you got to have real animal protein in there somewhere or you are starving your muscle, that isn't healthy.

This fella is vegan and he seems to have plenty muscles -


Check out: http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/article/724
This is what he said, "One popular wrong notion is that vegans are frail and skinny. *laughs* My power has increased since becoming vegan, especially my endurance, and I almost never get ill anymore. It’s true that I lost some pounds, but to most people that would mean no harm "

I am vegetarian and I'm definitely not frail and skinny.

 

[Jaymes]

Veggies, veggies, veggies! I love putting carrots, tomato, spinach, etc in my packed lunches. Not intended as a salad, but that's usually what it ends up being. No iceberg lettuce, though. Bleh. That stuff is solidified water with about as much nutritional value.

The good ol' rice and beans route is good too if you want some hot food. Maybe some "whatever's leftover in the fridge" soup, too.

As for snacks, lowfat vegetarian yogurt is great. Just be careful about gelatin; the kosher gelatin is made of bones as often as not.

No dig at you but I'd say that any man with any noticeable muscle on their bodies would shrivel up like a raisin with a diet of veggies and veggie protein only. Unless you are a very slight individual you got to have real animal protein in there somewhere or you are starving your muscle, that isn't healthy.

Man, I can't believe I believed the ADA when they said a vegetarian diet was healthy and can meet all the nutritional needs of a healthy adult without having to result to eating meat! :cover:

 

[Hema]

Gene, buy a mini food chopper and chop your favourite veggies, eg. sweetpepper, tomato, onion, carrot, cucumber, avocado etc. and finely chop cheese - if you eat cheese - if not just leave it out. BTW, buy rennet-free cheese. Some cheeses are cured with rennet which is somehting taken from the animal's stomach. Just toss all the chopped veggies (and cheese if using) with a little olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with whole wheat bread. Don't use too much olive oil because the bread can get froggy...er...I mean soggy.

I don't know if you eat dal - which is an Indian dish made with peas or beans. If not, eat rice (brown rice is healthier), and peas or beans made with a nice gravy and eat this with fried tomatoes. When I fry tomatoes, I just saute some olive oil and onions then add the chopped tomatoes. I add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until tomatoes are very soft and cooked through.

 

[Jaymes]

Oh, and if you're on LiveJournal, the community vegrecipes has lots of great stuff! I think even if you're not on it you can view the public entries and recipes.

 

[jacquie4000]

I love to fry up all kinds of pepers and mushroms then put some humus on a low carb pita with a little shreded chese. You can just heat it up at lunch and put it on the pita.

 

[evearael]

Can you get your hands on a crock pot? You could slow cook all sorts of yummy soups with a variety of grains and beans, garlic and onion... and just add whatever other veggies you can get your hands on like tomatoes, spinach, zucchini... It makes great comfort food. If you are on a limited budget, make sure you buy foods that are very nutrient rich, like spinach instead of lettuce. Fresh fruit is always good, though dried fruit and nuts would be great too. I don't know if you eat eggs, but you could hard boil them in a hot on a hot plate. Make sure you switch up the types of grains, beans (and other protein sources as your diet allows), dairy (if you eat it), fruits and vegetables regularly because it will help keep you interested in it so you don't feel the urge to run out and buy food out (which is much more expensive than doing it yourself) and is better for you.

 

[Booko]

If not, eat rice (brown rice is healthier), and peas or beans made with a nice gravy and eat this with fried tomatoes.

Ummm, yes, lentils and brown rice. With a bit of cardamom or fresh dill, and those fried tomatoes. Yum. Add some fresh veggies to eat raw, and it's a good lunch.

It's still a bit high in the carb department for where I'm at right now, but I boost the protein by eating a few slices of sheep's milk cheese on the side.

Even where I don't have a microwave, I don't mind eating lentils and rice as long as it's room temperature. Which means just take it out of the fridge in the morning and let it sit out till lunchtime.

 

[Booko]

I don't know if you eat eggs, but you could hard boil them in a hot on a hot plate.

I wish I could deal with eggs better. They're such a good transportable food.

The Failproof method to hard-boil an egg without them cracking or geting overdone and the yolks turning green.

1. Put eggs in pot of COLD water.
2. When water comes to a FULL BOIL, turn it off.
3. Set time for 25 minutes. When it goes off...
4. Put pot in sink and run COLD water into pot.

I've never had a bad egg using grandma's method.