25 Gluten-Free & Vegan School Lunch Ideas

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These 25 vegan and gluten-free lunch ideas are perfect for your child’s lunchbox! Featuring sandwiches, wraps and some hot lunch options, as well as a few snacks and sweet treats, you’re sure to find tasty choices for your little ones. 

Let’s be real. Back to school time is stressful. That is, unless you find rummaging through the collection of folders strewn about the Wal-Mart shelves to find that elusive LOL or Minecraft one your kid MUST have this year a good time, then you’ll appreciate a little stress relief in the lunchtime department…especially if you are the parent of a gluten-free, vegan kiddo. 

So, without further ado, let’s get to the food…

Vegan Sandwiches & Wraps

Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich by Vegan HuggsChickpeas can do anything…even make tuna salad sandwiches! This twist on the classic lunchtime favorite can be served on gluten-free, vegan bread or a wrap along with your child’s choice of toppings such as lettuce and tomato or even a slice of vegan cheese. 

Homemade Allergy-Free Uncrustables by Strength & SunshinePeanut butter and jelly is a childhood staple, but what about those with peanut allergies? These allergy-free copycat Uncrustables made with sunflower butter are the answer! Use your favorite jelly and gluten-free, vegan bread and you’ll have one happy kiddo!

Nutella can be found in lunchboxes around the world, just not vegan ones. However, this vegan version is not only dairy-free, but it’s also oil-free and naturally sweetened with banana. Spread on your favorite gluten-free, vegan bread and add some sliced fruit for a satisfying sandwich.

Vegan Hot Lunch

Dairy-Free Macaroni & Cheese by Raia’s RecipesMac and cheese is the ultimate kid food! This vegan version made with butternut squash, is both nutritious and delicious. Keep it warm in your child’s lunchbox by heating it up in the morning and storing it in a Thermos or similar style insulated container. Personally, I pack mac and cheese in my girls’ lunch all the time. It’s not piping hot, but’s definitely still warm and yummy (so I’m told).

Star Chick’n Nuggets by VeganosityNothing says kid food more than nuggets! There’s just something about these handheld bites that kids just eat right up…literally. 🙂 And, the star shapes make them even more fun. To help keep these tofu-based chick’n nuggets crispy in your child’s school lunch, place a folded paper towel in the bottom of the Thermos or other insulated hot food container. 

Baked Chickpea Nuggets by This Healthy KitchenFor even more nugget options, these chickpea-based ones ones are another great option. They also happen to be free of the top 8 allergens as they are not only vegan and gluten-free, but also nut-free and soy-free. Send them in with your child’s favorite dipping sauce such as ketchup or vegan ranch dressing. 

Baked Tofu by Fried DandelionsThese bite-sized baked tofu pieces are delicious both hot or at room temperature. And, they work well both on their own but also mixed into rice or quinoa, which makes for endless lunchbox options!

Creamy Instant Pot Tomato Soup by Recipes from a PantryNothing beats soup for lunch on chilly fall or winter days…especially tomato soup paired with a gluten-free, vegan grilled cheese sandwich! This instant pot recipe is super easy to make in just 10 minutes. Aside from a sandwich, this soup is also yummy served topped with roasted chickpeas or sliced almonds. Be sure to pack them separately for your child to add to the soup at lunchtime.

Vegan Snacks & Sweet Treats

Basic Hummus without Tahini by Watch Learn Eat
This hummus is super easy to make in just minutes in your food processor. It’s also allergen-free as it’s both soy-free and nut-free too! And, one of the great things about having hummus for lunch is that it doubles as both a main and a snack when you serve it with your favorite dippers such as carrots, peppers, tortilla chips or crackers like these…

Chickpea Crackers by Moon and Spoon and Yum
These crackers are also top 8 allergen-free and are not only perfect for dipping into hummus, but also salsa and guacamole. They’re also easy to make with only 5 ingredients! Pure crunchy cracker goodness! 🙂