10 Protein-Packed Meatless Lunch Ideas

Often, vegans are asked how they get enough protein, since meat eaters typically associate meat with protein. But there are several ways for us to get an adequate amount of protein on a plant-based diet.

The CDC recommends, in general, that 10 – 35 percent of your daily calories come from protein. The recommended daily allowance for both men and women is 0.80 grams of protein for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. Or, that’s 0.36 grams of protein per pound that we weigh. With vegetables, nuts, and legumes, you can get enough protein as a vegan. Check out these 10 protein-packed vegan lunch ideas:

1. Hummus Wrap

Take a whole wheat tortilla (or better yet, a sprouted grain tortilla) and spread it with hummus, which is a spread made from chickpeas. Add some greens and vegetables, and you’ve got a delicious, hummus-filled lunch, like these Roasted Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Hummus Wraps. Or, you can swap the wrap for greens, as in this Hummus Collard Wrap.

2. Tofu Burgers

These Simple Maple Dijon Tofu Burgers are filling, satisfying, and they will keep you full and energized for hours. Be sure to also search through our Burger Archives for more protein-packed meatless lunch ideas involving burgers!

3. Lentil Loaf

If you miss eating meatloaf back during your omnivore days, try this Lentil Loaf recipe.

4. Bean Burrito With Guacamole

Try knock-off-amole but don’t let the name deter you from making it. You add peas into the mix, but it has all the delicious taste of regular guacamole. Try one of our many burrito recipes!

5. Pasta With Vegan Meatballs

You can make this hearty, filling meal for dinner and then have it for the next day’s leftovers. We’ve got plenty of vegan meatball recipes as well as tips for making delicious, protein-packed meatless meatballs!

6. Mock Chicken Salad

This Mock Chicken Salad recipe calls for tempeh as well as fruit, curry powder, and walnuts for a delicious, well-rounded taste. We also have this Un-Chicken Salad and Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich recipes!

7. Zen Lentil and Quinoa Kitchari

This Indian comfort food, which is made with split lentils, will give you sustaining energy to last throughout the afternoon.

8. Raw Green Pea Soup

This simple recipe for Raw Green Pea Soup calls for only six ingredients, but it packs a lot of flavor and delicious taste.

9. Vegan BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich With Sweet Miso Coleslaw

This protein-packed meatless lunch sounds like a meat dish from a backyard BBQ, but it’s 100 percent dairy and meat-free. The BBQ sauce on the lentil meatball sandwich is divine, especially with the coleslaw.

10. Tempeh ‘Fish’ N’ Chips With Tartar Sauce

These mock fish sticks are made from tempeh, chickpea flour, and several seasonings and spices. The vegan tartar sauce gets its tang from vegan mayo and pickle relish.

We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

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Lead Image Source: Vegan BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich with Sweet Miso Coleslaw