15+ Vegan Lunch Ideas For Kids – Sweet Potato Soul

As a vegan chef and busy mom, I know how tough it can be to feed picky eaters while also making sure meals are healthy and easy to prepare. That’s why I’ve pulled together this collection of my 6-year-old daughter’s favorite recipes—the ones she actually asks for again and again, whether in her lunchbox at school or as an after-school treat. These 15+ vegan lunch ideas are quick to make, perfect for meal prepping, and designed to nourish the whole family. Packed with plant-based protein, iron, calcium, and fiber, they’re balanced meals that adults will love too. If you’ve been searching for vegan lunch ideas for kids that please picky eaters and make mealtime simpler, this roundup is for you!

Don’t miss the bonus immune boosting recipe at the end!

Vegan Lunch Ideas for Kids

The Best Vegan Chicken Nuggets

These Vegan Chicken Nuggets (i.e., tofu nuggets) are crispy, juicy, and totally delicious—just like everyone’s favorite, Chick-fil-A! Made with a light breading and classic seasonings, they’re easy to make with two different cooking variations: air frying and baking. Serve the nuggets with vegan BBQ sauce and vegan sweet potato waffle fries for the perfect satisfying yet healthier treat. 

Everyday Tofu Stir Fry

A Tofu Stir Fry Recipe so quick, easy, and delicious you could make it every day! Vary the vegetables depending on what your kids like, or adapt the sauce (avoid chili sauce if your kiddos don’t like spicy) to your taste preferences for a versatile, filling, and nutritious meal you can make any day of the week. It’s ready in 30 minutes and brimming with tasty veggies and complete plant protein!

Chickpea Tuna Salad

This vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad recipe is loaded with zesty, creamy flavors and made entirely from plant-based ingredients. Chickpeas are rich in protein and fiber, as well as iron. Use it as a hearty filling for lunch box sandwiches, or serve it with crackers or sliced veggies.

Caribbean-Inspired Vegan Bento Box

This Caribbean-inspired Bento Box is what lunchbox dreams are made of. Rice and beans are topped with a coconut cilantro pesto, and served with grilled tofu and roasted sweet potatoes. Banana muffins are a sweet treat to balance out this hearty bento.

2-Ingredient BBQ Tofu

Meaty and tender with crispy, charred exteriors, this BBQ Tofu is one of my daughter’s favorite lunchbox meals. I serve it with noodles or pasta (see the recipes below), and steamed veggies. Tofu is rich in plant-based protein plus calcium!

Saucy Garlic Noodles

My daughter saw me editing this blog post and immediately asked for these saucy Garlic Noodles! The sweet and savory sauce is a kid pleaser, and it comes together with minimal effort. Serve these noodles with a protein like BBQ Tofu or Tofu Nuggets, and steamed veggies, to make it a complete meal.

Hearty Tofu Chili

I remember loving chili as a kid, and my 6 year old is no different. This hearty Tofu Chili is made with 3 beans and spiced tofu that is crisped to perfection in the air fryer (or oven). Because it’s full of beans and tofu, this chili is also rich in protein, fiber, calcium, and iron.

Creamy Vegan Carbonara

This Vegan Carbonara is so incredibly creamy and cheesy that you’ll forget it’s plant-based! Tossed with meaty and smoky tofu bits, this recipe is healthy comfort food at its finest. Because long noodles can be messy, I like to make this Carbonara with short pasta––like penne––when packing for school lunch.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Believe it or not, my daughter doesn’t love sweet potatoes. Because of that, I am always looking for ways to add them to meals. She likes this Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili because it’s hearty and has a nice sweet-savory taste, thanks to the tubers.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry

If you have kids who like a little spice (but not spicy) then try this Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry. It is easy to make, full of flavor, perfect for meal prep, and nutritious. I love how the sweet potatoes pair with the coconut and Indian spices. And the chickpeas give this curry loads of vegan protein.

Zesty Black Bean and Corn Salad

I literally make this Black Bean and Corn Salad once a week for my daughter. I usually serve it over rice or with simple vegan quesadillas (just vegan cheese and regular flour tortillas). This recipe includes jalapeño peppers and tomatoes, but I leave them out when making for my kiddo because she does not like them.

Snacks & Sweet Treats

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

These Vegan Rice Crispy Treats are a delightful, dairy-free twist on a classic favorite. With a perfect balance of gooey and crispy textures, they’re a quick and easy treat for after-school snacking.

Mango Sorbet

This is a recipe I always have in my freezer! My daughter loves fruit sorbets more than any other sweet treat, and I love that she can enjoy this healthy sorbet for after-school snacking and dessert. Use almost any frozen fruit to make it, or do a blend of your kid’s favorites.

Easy Pear Sorbet

As we move into the fall season, you may find yourself with pears that are ripening before you can eat them. Never waste overripe pears again! This delicious pear sorbet is made with just 4 simple vegan ingredients. You don’t need to use an ice cream maker. The texture is creamy and silky!

“Cheesy” Pumpkin Seed Crackers

These homemade cheesy vegan Pumpkin Seed Crackers are a wholesome and delicious anytime snack! Because they’re made with pumpkin seeds they are rich in immune supportive zinc, plus protein and fiber. These crunchy crackers get their cheesy flavor from the addition of nutritional yeast, which is rich in B vitamins.

Crunchy Sourdough Discard Crackers

If you’re a sourdough mom, you’ll love this easy discard cracker recipe. My family says these crackers taste like vegan Cheez Its–thanks to the sourdough. But they’re so much healthier!

Fluffy Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Most store-bought muffins are loaded with low quality ingredients, preservatives, tons of sugar, and crappy oils. Why not make wholesome vegan Blueberry Muffins at home? These muffins are made with spelt flour which is more nutritious than white flour, but you can use whole wheat flour if that’s what you have.

Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pillowy-soft Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies, made in a few simple steps with no chilling required! They’re incredibly moist and light, thanks to the almond flour. Flaxseed meal binds the dough and gives them a chewy texture so good you’ll never miss the eggs! They’re naturally gluten-free, lower in carbs, and plant-based and vegan.

Energizing Avocado Smoothie

Kids who like tropical flavors will love this super creamy Avocado Pineapple Smoothie! It comes together in minutes! You can add vanilla protein powder to this refreshing smoothie to give it a tasty boost.

The Best Sweet Potato Hummus

This Sweet Potato Hummus is the perfect savory after school snack. Kids can enjoy it with pita, crackers, or sliced veggies. Or use it as a spread for lunchbox sandwiches. The addition of sweet potato gives this hummus an earthy taste and lots of important beta-carotene. .

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

School is back in session, and so is cold season! This homemade Elderberry Syrup is a perfect natural remedy to help support your family’s immunity. Enjoy the delicious rich berry flavor and warming spices by the spoonful, added to drinks, or even drizzled on top of your favorite dishes.   

Which one(s) of these vegan lunch ideas for kids do you think your kiddos will like best?

Check out my new Back-to-School Meal Prep video on YouTube for more meal prep tips and inspiration.

Need some vegan breakfast ideas? Check out this post!