Recipe

How To Make A Week’s Worth of Vegan Lunches for $15 at Trader Joe’s

By Sasha Kran at University of Texas

 A lot of college kids spend the majority of their money on food. Unfortunately, if you’re living the life of a broke college student, it’s hard to find food that won’t break the bank. Nowadays, it seems that you can’t enter any food establishment without spending at least $10 (unless of course you opt for the always faithful pizza and bagels). Whether you follow the vegan diet or are just sick of spending all your money on food, these recipes are perfect for you. With only $15, you can make an entire week of delicious vegan lunches, all of which take less than 10 minutes to prepare.

If that isn’t reason enough, then the fact that you will have a week of healthy and protein-filled vegan meals PLUS leftovers, should be. 

Here's your shopping list:

- Black Beans: $0.89

- Chickpeas: $0.79

- White Beans: $0.89

- 2 Avocados: $1.98

- Cucumber: $1.29

- Spinach: $1.99

- Bread: $2.49

- Onion: $0.69

- Pepper: $0.99

- Rice: $1.69

- Tomato: $0.79

Total: $14.48

Now embrace yourself for a week of tasty and cheap meals.

Monday

Open-Faced Homemade Hummus and Veggie Sandwich

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 slices bread
  • 1/2 cup chickpeas
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 garlic clove
  • 8 cucumber slices
  • 1/4 red pepper sliced
  • 1/4 avocado sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Place chickpeas, olive oil, and garlic into food processor. Pulse until smooth.

Step 2

Toast slices of bread, then spread hummus on top.

Step 3

Top with cucumber, red pepper, avocado, or any other veggies you want.

Tuesday

Black Bean and Chickpea Salad

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup chickpeas
  • 1/2 cup black beans
  • 1/4 onion chopped
  • 1/2 tomato cubed
  • 1/4 avocado cubed
  • 1/4 red pepper sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Place all ingredients into a bowl.

Step 2

Mix together and enjoy

Wednesday

Black Bean and Brown Rice Bowl

  • Prep Time: 2 mins
  • Cook Time: 8 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup black beans
  • 1 cup brown rice cooked
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 red pepper sliced
  • 1/4 onion sliced
  • 1/4 avocado sliced

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Cook brown rice.

Step 2

Sautée sliced peppers and onions in a pan with olive oil.

Step 3

Place all ingredients into a bowl and enjoy.

Thursday

Smashed White Bean Sandwich

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 slices bread
  • 1/2 cup white beans
  • 1/4 avocado
  • 8 cucumber slices
  • 1 cup baby spinach

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Toast slices of bread.

Step 2

Smash white beans onto one slice and avocado onto the other.

Step 3

Top one side with spinach and avocado.

Step 4

Place other slice on top.

Friday

White Bean Salad

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup white beans
  • 1/4 onion chopped
  • 1/4 avocado sliced
  • 1/4 red pepper sliced
  • 1/2 tomato cubed
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix together.

Saturday

Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 slices bread
  • 1/4 avocado
  • 1/2 cup chickpeas
  • 10 cucumber slices

Sasha Kran

Step 1

Toast slices of bread.

Step 2

Smash together chickpeas and avocado in a bowl.

Step 3

Spread across bread.

Step 4

Add on cucumber and any other desired veggies.

Sunday

Avocado Toast

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 1-2 slices bread
  • 1/2 avocado
  • Olive oil drizzled
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Anna Lustig

Step 1

Toast bread.

Step 2

Place smashed avocado with salt and pepper onto bread.