9 Slimming-Friendly Vegetarian Lunch Ideas to Add to Your Next Meal Plan
It’s always easier to put a healthy, veggie-friendly meal plan together when you have plenty of vegetarian lunch ideas to get you through the week. When you don’t eat meat it can be a little trickier to keep mealtimes interesting, but there’s no reason to miss out on tasty, slimming-friendly food!
From soup to pasta, or even pizza for lunch, we’ve got loads of veggie recipes that are quick and easy to rustle up. Start by adding some of these 9 slimming-friendly vegetarian lunches to your weekly meal plan, and you’ll be counting down the hours until it’s time to tuck in…
Marmite Pasta
No matter how little time you have to cook on your lunch break, you can always spare 20 minutes for this Marmite Pasta. Gloriously simple, we’ve turned a handful of affordable ingredients into a hearty, filling meal that’s cheap, cheerful and just 305 calories per serving!
It’s a given that you’ll need to be a Marmite lover to enjoy this recipe (and if you are, we’ve got plenty more recipes that’ll be up your street!). By adding more or less of the lip-smacking savoury paste, you can tweak how Marmite-y it is, until it’s exactly how you like it.
Broccoli and Sweetcorn Fritters
We’ve packed loads of veggies into our Broccoli and Sweetcorn Fritters, and they make for a top notch lunch served with a quick side salad. They have a lovely flavour on their own, but they’re even better when you take them for a dunk in the creamy chilli and lime dip we’ve included in the recipe!
The only ingredient that’s not vegetarian is the Worcestershire sauce, so swap this for some Henderson’s relish and you’re good to go! Fry up your fritters and enjoy a veggie-friendly lunchtime bite, for just 202 calories per portion.
Minestrone Soup
A bowl of hearty soup is always a winner in the middle of the day. With oodles of vegetables, potatoes, beans and pasta in the mix, you’ll never be left hungry after slurping through a serving of our Minestrone Soup.
It’s one of those recipes where the more veggies, the merrier – so there’s no need to stick to exactly the same lineup we’ve used. Throw in any stray veg that needs using up and let it simmer away in the rich, tomatoey broth. We like to add a sprinkle of Parmesan right before serving, but to keep things vegetarian, you can swap this or leave it out completely.
Vegetable Tarts
You probably think it would be a lot of hassle to bake a homemade tart on your lunch break, but what if we told you our slimming-friendly Vegetable Tarts are on the table in well under half an hour?
The trick is to forget about faffing with pastry, and grab a pack of low-calorie tortilla wraps instead! They’re ideal for holding the tasty filling of chopped veggies, and they’ll crisp up and turn golden as they bake.
Light yet satisfying, each 252-calorie tart can be enjoyed hot or cold (and we even like to add some Homemade Oven Chips when we’re feeling especially hungry!).
French Bread Pizza
If you can only spare 10 minutes to make your midday meal, pop our French Bread Pizza on your meal plan. Pizza for lunch might feel (and taste) indulgent, but a couple of nifty hacks mean this slimming-friendly vegetarian lunch is only 289 calories.
You’ll top your bread roll with our herby tomato mixture, before sprinkling on reduced-fat Cheddar cheese that’ll get gloriously gooey and golden in the oven. Don’t forget, there’s no reason you can’t get creative with this recipe – you can add your favourite pizza toppings, and just count any extra calories, if you’re keeping track!
Psst…if you’re a pizza fan, you’ll love these other pizza-inspired recipes!
Cheesy Chilli Toastie
A good old cheese sandwich is always an easy lunch option, but things really ramp up when you turn it into a crunchy, melt-in-the-middle cheese toastie. We like to push the flavours even further, which is why we’ve given this Cheesy Chilli Toastie an extra zing!
Fresh red chillies and a sprinkle of chilli powder are mixed into the cheese filling, adding a fiery edge to the mellow Gouda. This type of cheese can sometimes be made using rennet, so you’ll want to check the label to make sure it’s vegetarian (you can always use a different type of cheese if you prefer!).
Mushroom and Rarebit Muffins
Cheese, mushrooms, muffins…there’s lots of reasons to love our Mushroom and Rarebit Muffins as a vegetarian lunch idea! A lighter twist on the Welsh-inspired recipe, you can rustle them up from scratch in just 15 minutes.
We’ve mixed an egg yolk into the cheesy topping, to bring extra richness without adding loads of calories. A pinch of mustard powder and a splash of Henderson’s relish goes a long way, ramping up the savoury flavours until they’re completely irresistible!
Sweet Potatoes with Feta and Harissa
You can’t go wrong with a jacket spud for lunch, and these Sweet Potatoes with Feta and Harissa are no exception. The tender baked sweet potatoes are stuffed with salty feta and spicy harissa, for a balance of flavours that’ll liven up your lunch break!
Roasting your spuds will take a little while, so this is ideal for a weekend lunch, or if you like to plan ahead. Get the potatoes in the oven while you’re finishing up your morning, then add the toppings when you’re ready to eat.
Caramelised Onion Quiche
Members of our friendly Facebook group will be familiar with this final vegetarian lunch idea…a lovely slice of Caramelised Onion Quiche. It’s been hugely popular ever since we first added it to the website, and we understand exactly why!
The easy-peasy crustless quiche only uses a handful of simple ingredients, and yet they bubble away to create big flavours. Trust us, there’s something special about the combination of the sweetened red onion and sharp, creamy Cheddar cheese.
At just 164 calories per serving, you’ll be straight back for a second slice!
Which slimming-friendly vegetarian lunch ideas will you try this week?
We’d love to hear which veggie recipes you can’t wait to taste! Head on over to our Facebook group to drop in any photos, hints, tips, or stories about what you’ve been cooking lately. Everyone in the group will LOVE hearing from you!
Plus, don’t forget you can upload any photos you’ve taken of your recent meals to the PON gallery – you might even win some SWAG!
Here are a few other articles for vegetarian meals that you might find handy…