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  6. 21 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Lunches for Work

21 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Lunches for Work

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD May 22, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches

These totable lunches are perfect for days when you want something light to power you through the afternoon. Whether you choose a sandwich, salad or grain bowl, these low-calorie options promise to add a spark of deliciousness to your day. Vegetarian recipes like our Rainbow Veggie Wraps and Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches are easy to bring along to the office for a healthy lunch al desko.

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

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In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

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Rainbow Veggie Wraps

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There's definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they're easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.

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Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches

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Lighten up classic egg salad by swapping in creamy avocado instead of using mayonnaise. Sandwich it between toasted whole-wheat bread and you've got an easy, packable lunch ready for work or school.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
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This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans

Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This salad is loaded with colorful produce: fresh mint, snap peas, radishes and oranges. For pretty snap pea slices, cut them into long, thin strips.

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Black Bean & Slaw Bagel

Black Bean & Slaw Bagel
Credit: Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh
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This easy open-face sandwich recipe uses a jalapeño-Cheddar bagel, but a plain bagel would work just as well. Top each bagel half with black beans and fresh slaw for a satisfying bite.

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Crispy Smoked Tofu & Coleslaw Wraps

Crispy Smoked Tofu & Coleslaw Wraps
Credit: Johnny & Charlotte Autry
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Tossing the smoked tofu in cornstarch then pan-frying makes it super-crispy. Drizzle with hot honey or your favorite hot sauce to spice it up a little.

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Chickpea & Kale Toast

Chickpea & Kale Toast
Credit: Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh
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This healthy toast recipe combines chickpeas, kale and feta for a savory bite.

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Meal-Prep Vegan Lettuce Wraps

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For these meal-prep-friendly lettuce wraps, we swap the traditional warm filling for a cold plant-based bean salad filling loaded with fresh herbs and lemon. Topping each lettuce leaf with a little quinoa before adding the filling helps to keep the lettuce from getting soggy.

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Cannellini Bean & Herbed Ricotta Toast

Cannellini Bean & Herbed Ricotta Toast
Credit: Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh
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Herbed ricotta toast gets topped with cannellini beans and roasted red peppers for a colorful, tasty open-face sandwich.

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Piled-High Greek Vegetable Pitas

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The bright, fresh flavors of the Mediterranean come alive in these easy vegetarian pitas. Give yourself enough time to make the roasted vegetables called for in the recipe--or make them a day or two in advance for a healthy meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. These pitas would also work well with whatever leftover cooked veggies you have on hand. No need to warm the roasted veggies up; this recipe tastes great chilled or at room temperature.

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Avocado Toast with Burrata

Avocado Toast with Burrata
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Burrata (cream-filled fresh mozzarella cheese) takes this avocado toast recipe to the next level for a decadent, yet weekday-friendly breakfast.

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Tabbouleh, Hummus & Pita Plate

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This Mediterranean-inspired vegan picnic dinner features traditional fare like tabbouleh, hummus, olives and fresh fruit and vegetables. It's perfect to pack and take along or even to serve as an easy, healthy meal at home.

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Couscous & Chickpea Salad

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Cooked couscous and canned chickpeas come together in this quick lunch salad. The basil vinaigrette makes it taste anything but basic! When in season, we recommend adding fresh chopped tomatoes for a spin on tabbouleh.

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Roasted Buffalo Chickpea Wraps

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This vegetarian riff on a Buffalo chicken wrap adds the spicy Buffalo tang you love to crunchy roasted chickpeas all tucked into an easy-to-make wrap with carrot, celery and blue cheese. Make and take a wrap for a healthy packable lunch or serve them up on game day for a protein-packed snack everyone will devour.

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Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce

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This vibrant bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
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This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.

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Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

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This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

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Whole-Wheat Veggie Wrap

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Use whichever veggies you have on hand to fill up this veggie wrap. The avocado and hummus help hold the wrap together--and provide heart-healthy fat and fiber.

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White Bean & Veggie Salad

white bean & veggie salad
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This meatless main-dish salad combines creamy, satisfying white beans and avocado. Try mixing it up with different seasonal vegetables.

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Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple

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This salad with lentils, feta and apple is a satisfying vegetarian entree to whip together for lunch. To save time, swap in drained canned lentils--just make sure to look for low-sodium and give them a rinse before adding them to the salad.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 21 Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
    2 of 21 Rainbow Veggie Wraps
    3 of 21 Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches
    4 of 21 Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
    5 of 21 Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
    6 of 21 Black Bean & Slaw Bagel
    7 of 21 Crispy Smoked Tofu & Coleslaw Wraps
    8 of 21 Chickpea & Kale Toast
    9 of 21 Meal-Prep Vegan Lettuce Wraps
    10 of 21 Cannellini Bean & Herbed Ricotta Toast
    11 of 21 Piled-High Greek Vegetable Pitas
    12 of 21 Avocado Toast with Burrata
    13 of 21 Tabbouleh, Hummus & Pita Plate
    14 of 21 Couscous & Chickpea Salad
    15 of 21 Roasted Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
    16 of 21 Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce
    17 of 21 Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
    18 of 21 Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
    19 of 21 Whole-Wheat Veggie Wrap
    20 of 21 White Bean & Veggie Salad
    21 of 21 Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple

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    21 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Lunches for Work
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