Back to School Lunch & Snack Ideas

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Stack of vegan BLT sandwiches for our roundup of Back to School Lunch & Snack Ideas

It’s that time of year again: Back-to-school! It’s such an exciting time, but also overwhelming when it comes to feeding your family on-the-go. If you’re needing inspiration for simple lunches and snacks, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled our favorite peanut-free lunch and snack ideas below!

Lunch

Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich on a cutting board
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Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich
30-minute Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich with smashed chickpeas and roasted sunflower seeds in a simple dressing. Sandwiched between two slices of bread and topped with my secret garlic sauce, this is healthy lunch perfection.
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Tray filled with Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers on buns
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Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers
Easy, grillable veggie burgers with just 10 ingredients (give or take a spice)! Flavorful, hearty, and perfect for summertime grilling. Hearty enough to please meat-eaters and vegans alike!
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Vegan Collard Green Falafel topped with hummus and paprika
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Better-Than-Restaurant Falafel (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
Falafel that can rival any restaurant, although it remains vegan, gluten-free, and pan-cooked, not fried.
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Big plate of Gluten-Free Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta topped with fresh basil
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Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta (V + GF)
Simple, 6-ingredient Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta that comes together in 20 minutes! An easy, healthy vegan, gluten-free lunch or dinner.
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Glass bowl filled with our Vegan Gluten-Free Penne Pasta Salad recipe
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Penne Pasta Salad (30 Minutes!)
Wholesome and delicious classic pasta salad made with creamy pesto dressing and roasted tomatoes. Made with just 9 ingredients in 30 minutes! The perfect quick + easy side dish.
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Bowl of pita bread triangles and two big plate of Chickpea Shawarma Salad
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Chickpea Shawarma Salad
All of the flavor of a Middle Eastern-inspired chickpea shawarma sandwich in a salad! Shawarma-spiced chickpeas, fresh salad, and a creamy 4-ingredient Garlic Dill sauce! A flavorful, filling, plant-based meal.
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Pan filled with a batch of the Best Vegan Gluten-Free Mac n Cheese
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The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Mac ‘n’ Cheese
THE BEST Vegan, Gluten-Free Mac ‘n’ Cheese made with 8 simple ingredients in 1 hour! Cheesy, hearty, and so satisfying.
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Stacked halves of a Vegan BLT Sandwich on a plate
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Vegan “BLT” Sandwich
6-Ingredient vegan “BLT” sandwich made with vegan mayo and eggplant bacon! Crisp, smoky, flavorful, and so delicious.
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Big plate of Vegan Nicoise Salad with a measuring cup of dressing on the side
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Vegan Nicoise Salad (30 minutes!)
A plant-based version of classic Nicoise Salad with smashed chickpea salad in place of tuna. Fresh, satisfying, and ready in 30 minutes.
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Cutting board with three Spicy Chickpea Wraps tied with parchment paper and twine
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Spicy Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
30-minute Buffalo Chickpea Wraps requiring only 10 ingredients! Spicy chickpeas, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy hummus dressing.
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Snacks

Bowl of our EASY Crispy Roasted Chickpeas perfect for snacking or topping plant-based salads
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Actually Crispy Baked Chickpeas
4-ingredient baked roasted chickpeas that are ACTUALLY crispy! Simple methods, BIG flavor, so crunchy and delicious! Plus, plant-based and gluten-free.
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Parchment-lined baking sheet of Vegan GF Rosemary Crackers
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1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Crackers
Crispy, thin, gluten-free crackers reminiscent of Wheat Thins! Just 7 ingredients and 1 bowl required for these delicious snacks. Perfect for dipping in hummus, nut butters, and more!
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Cookie scoop, shredded coconut, lime half, and homemade Mango Energy Bites
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Mango Energy Bites
Easy, 6-ingredient mango energy bites with dates, coconut, hemp seeds, and lime zest! Perfectly sweet, tender, and so full of natural energy!
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Raw Carrot Cake Bites resting on a cake platter
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No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
Tender, naturally sweetened carrot cake bites with dates, carrots, walnuts, cinnamon, and coconut flour! So simple, delicious carrot cake flavor, and the perfect healthier snack or dessert! Just 30 minutes, 9 ingredients, and 1 food processor required.
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Stack of Vegan Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins with the top one partially eaten
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1-Bowl Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins
Simple, 1-Bowl Cornmeal Muffins studded with ripe blackberries. Tender, perfectly sweet, and a delicious snack or side dish for savory entrées.
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Almond butter on a knife and a muffin tin filled with Sweet Potato Almond Butter Muffins ready to go in the oven
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Sweet Potato Almond Butter Muffins
Super moist vegan muffins with sweet potato puree and a spoonful of salted almond butter in every bite. The perfect light breakfast or afternoon snack.
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Bowl of Cheesy Kale Chips on a baking sheet with more chips and nutritional yeast
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30-Minute Cheesy Kale Chips
Easy, baked kale chips in just 30 minutes with 8 ingredients! Cheesy, crispy, and nutrient-packed!
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Parchment-lined cutting board with a batch of Healthy Brownie Granola Bars
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Healthy Brownie Granola Bars
7-ingredient granola bars that taste just like a raw brownie! No baking required besides toasting the nuts and oats — an optional step. Simple, all naturally sweetened, and so delicious.
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If you try any of these recipes, let us know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

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  1. Alissa Carde says

    I absolutely love your recipes and how easy you make them., are you thinking of making another book soon?