"My work day mornings usually go something like this: alarm goes off. Hit snooze no less than eight times. Finally roll out of bed. Slippers, robe. Brush teeth, light skincare, makeup, hair (maybe), outfit. Realize I have to leave RIGHT NOW to make my bus. Throw an oatmeal packet, yogurt, string cheese, and clementine in my bag. Run out the door.
Then, at lunchtime, I’m faced with the ultimate disappointment. I already ate my oatmeal for breakfast at my desk, and did I really only bring myself the contents of a kindergartener’s lunch box to eat? I look at Beth, who sits across from me, and say something like “I don’t even want to eat the lunch I brought for myself. Maybe they have pierogies [at the cafe] across the street today! ”
So, in an effort to stop hurting my future lunch-eating self—and my wallet—I set out to find some delightful and easy (as in under 20-minute prep time) vegetarian recipes that I could start making myself for lunch.
Scroll on for 15 seriously delicious-looking vegetarian lunches to try out (and know that I really did this for me):
1. Cauliflower Fried Rice with Crispy Tofu
Source: Pinch of Yum
2. Chopped Greek Chickpea Salad
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
3. Black Bean and Avocado Wraps
Source: Gimme Delicious
4. Thai Peanut Noodle Bowls
Source: She Likes Food
5. Falafel Bowls
Source: Eating Bird Food
6. Chickpea Gyro Lunch Meal Prep
Source: Live Eat Learn
7. Farmer’s Market Veggie Sandwich
Source: Cotter Crunch
8. Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
Source: Well and Full
9. Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
10. Packable Crunchy Detox Salad
Source: Eating Bird Food
11. Butternut Squash Tahini Buddha Bowl
Source: Delish Knowledge
12. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Source: Foolproof Living
13. Crockpot Spicy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Source: Half Baked Harvest
14. Easy Vegan Potato Wraps
Source: Well and Full
15. Stuffed Pepper Meal Prep
Source: Live Eat Learn
This article was originally published on February 12, 2020.