Mason jars may be trendy and cute, but they had their moment in 2014. And then in 2015 and 2016. Besides, they’re not exactly practical (try eating out of one) and there are only so many salads to try before you get bored. Still, bringing lunch to your internship or any summer job is a great idea if you want to save money, so it’s time to explore some different homemade options. Try one of these 15 easy vegan lunch ideas that don’t require a mason jar.
1. Tofu and Vegetable Fried Rice
Fried rice is possibly one of the most perfect lunches, especially when it’s homemade. This recipe includes vegetables and tofu, so it’s the perfect one-pot meal to make for a weekday lunch (and then eat all week long).
2. Ultimate Vegan Sandwich
It might not be as traditional as a grilled cheese or PB&J, but this sandwich is stuffed with vegetables, hummus, and avocado, so it will keep you full and taste great. Bonus: It’s super easy to make!
3. Vegetable Sushi
Sushi is delicious, but it can also get kind of expensive, especially on a student budget. Instead, try making your own vegetable roll for lunch, filled with cucumbers and avocado.
4. Sushi Burrito
Sushi burritos may be a hipster trend, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t taste good. However, they can also be pretty expensive and hard to find if your internship isn’t in a city, so try making your own instead an filling it with all your favorite vegetables and tofu.
5. Broccoli and Garlic Pasta Toss
Cooked gluten-free brown rice pasta, garlic, and broccoli—that’s it. Using only one pot, it’s easy to turn this delicious pasta into a vegan lunch, and have enough for dinner the next night.
6. Sweet Potato and Chickpea Bowl
Make your lunch healthy and flavorful by combining roasted sweet potatoes, spiced chickpeas, kale, and broccoli into one awesome bowl. Switch up the veggies a bit if you want to meal prep this and get bored eating the same thing every day.
7. Sofrita Bowl
If you’re a fan of chipotle, try this homemade take on sofritas, the vegan option. It’s easy, tasty, and you don’t have to deal with the risk of foodborne illness (or the extra price of guac).
8. Chipotle-Style Vegan Burrito
If burrito bowls aren’t your thing, try this take on the Chipotle burrito instead, packed full of vegetables, guacamole, rice, and beans.
9. Pesto Pasta
While most store-bought pesto contains Parmesan for texture and flavor, this homemade version is vegan, without sacrificing taste. Made with nutritional yeast and white beans, this pesto pasta is delicious and full of protein to help you get through a long day.
10. Pita Pockets
When it comes to vegan food, hummus is one of the all-time greats. Make it even better by cooking vegetables and combing them with your hummus in a pita pocket.
11. Black bean burrito
This basic vegan burrito recipe is perfect if you want something quick and easy. The black beans make for a filling meal and the guacamole brings it to the next level.
12. Peanut Sesame Noodles
This recipe combines peanut butter and pasta, so it’s pretty hard to beat. The noodles are served with broccoli and tofu, making this easy make-ahead lunch delicious and protein-packed. Tip: This calls for spaghetti-style noodles, but any long pasta will work (fresh ramen noodles are the best).
13. Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
This recipe is a copycat version of the vegan mac and cheese at ByChloe, a popular plant-based chain with locations in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Providence, and London. If you’re not interning in one of those cities, make your own dairy-free cheese sauce form cashews and sweet potatoes.
14. Vegan Banh Mi
Good Banh Mi sandwiches can be hard to find, especially if you’re looking for a vegan option or aren’t interning in a city. Instead, try making your own version of the Vietnamese sandwich by piling pickled vegetables and seared tofu in French bread for a delicious and relatively easy lunch.
15. Tofu Banh Mi Salad
If you’d rather the classic Vietnamese sandwich in salad form (though not in a mason jar), this combination of quick pickles, marinated tofu and lettuce is perfect. It’s just as simple as a sandwich and perfect for hot days when the thought of anything too hot makes you want to curl up next to the air conditioner.