Vegan Lunch Box

by Jennifer McCann

The first edition of Vegan Lunch Box is sold out! A big thank you to all the fans of Vegan Lunch Box. Watch for a new edition from Marlowe & Company coming Spring 2008.

Genres: Cookbooks, Vegan, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Vegetarian, Parenting

295 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jennifer McCann is the creator of the award-winning Vegan Lunch Box blog. She lives in Kennewick, Washington.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book mostly because it is fun to read. I especially enjoyed the little stories the author (a vegan mother) told about her family & life. The photos of the lunches she's made for her son to take to school are also fun to look at; I wish that there were more photos. In my opinion, most of the lunch menus are more varied/labor intensive than most people would be willing to follow daily for their child's school lunches or their lunches to take to work or other on the go meals. But these are healthy, vegan, "fun" meals and obviously a lot of love has gone into making them. The book came about from Jennifer McCann's Vegan Lunch Box blog: www.veganlunchbox.com. One of the best things about this book, especially since it's a book of recipes to make for children, is an Allergen-Free index that shows which recipes in the book are free of nuts, soy, gluten, and wheat, especially helpful information for those with allergies.

[Wrapped Up in Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by a mother who lovingly prepares delicious-sounding lunches for her son every day. I was jealous of her creativity and her ability to find the time to make these creations. Some recipes include prepared foods but many of them involve more steps and time than I currently can figure out how to fit into my schedule. However, I read the book cover to cover including all the recipe steps, in order to be inspired to make similar meals for my sons. I might not make pizza dough from scratch like the author, but I can still make the vegan pizzas. I’ll also try the polenta fries, but with prepared polenta. Baby steps.

[Rebecca]

Best pumpkin muffin recipe ever!!

[Gayle Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gem of a book, perfect for aspiring kid-cooks and their parents alike. I bought this for my granddaughter, and read it before passing it along. There are so many quick and easy recipes, I purchased a copy for myself!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not need a recipe for a nut butter and jam sandwich, nor for vegan deli meats and soy cheese slices sandwiches, nor veggie sticks with dip, nor... Well, you get the idea. There were a lot of ideas that are common-place now (cookie cutter sandwiches, hiding leafy greens in pasta sauces, etc.) though still standards for a reason. She also relied heavily on processed products (I guess kids do want chick'n nuggets and pseudo-fish sticks to be like the other kids, but the other kids' parents are looking to remove those from their kids' diets too). This really does not fit in my whole-foods, eating clean plan.

I felt mostly uninspired, although I did copy the recipes for Tofu Apple Spring Rolls (I LOVE apple! Yes, I will indulge in tofu for spring rolls' sake) and Roasted Vegetable Broth (because my recipe is too boring and I LOVE roasted veggies). I felt most of it, I could have gotten elsewhere (actually, a lot of the recipes I had a version of somewhere else). The menu plans were not inspiring to me... except a little that her kid is so willing to eat veggie sticks.

IF you are really feeling uncreative, you may find some stuff in here worth trying or simply a menu plan to bring you out of your funk. However, before you bother, check out her blog at veganlunchbox.blogspot.com as you can probably find everything or should at least see if you find her at all inspiring first.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It certainly made me feel better about what I have been giving my 4 year old for lunch. Adding a couple of cookies, or a few jellybeans to a lunch is not so evil after all. Also, using cookie cutters to turn sandwiches into flowers or other shapes is a great way to pique a child's interest in food. My son loves it when I do that.
Realistically, I don't see us EVER moving past the "easy start" section. My son is so picky, as all kids are, but he is extremely particular. I can't imagine him having Brussel Sprouts, soup, wraps, carrots, ... he doesn't even like pizza. This is not the book's fault, but rather speaks to how darn difficult my child is when it comes to getting a balanced meal into him.
He is beyond picky, he is extremely rigid with many things so please keep that in mind when reading this review. I think for many kids who are willing to experiment, you can get to the advanced section. Even if you stick to the first section, you still will have plenty of lunch ideas.
My son liked to look at the pictures in the book and had fun naming the items (tomatoes, sandwich, cookies, ...). I did get a "yes" from him when I asked if he would like a mini banana in his lunch. Now that would make my day!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same disclaimer as before: I am not vegan. Or vegetarian. Just an eater looking for inspiration :)

This book was excellent for idea-finding and I now have a list of quick, easy, tasty lunch options for my family. In fact, I sat down tonight and planned this week's lunches and everyone will be enjoying hot packed lunches with proteins, fruits, veggies, grains and dairy! It was easy to convert the recipes to accommodate our food choices (although I'm sure that it wasn't Jennifer McCann's intention to help me figure out new meat dishes for lunches!)

Easy to read, filled with healthy options and great inspiration!

[missy jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are fun recipes and ideas in here, so I'm trying to forgive her for the inclusion of a recipe "for those days when you want to spend some time together in the kitchen before school." I mean, WHO. Just really.

[Iseult · Rating 2 out of 5]

All in all, it was okay, but not "amazing" as the title claims. As others have mentioned, there is a lot of processed fake meat and fake cheese in these "recipes." She mentions processed chicken nuggets and other common school lunch foods but doesn't acknowledge that all fake meat and cheese not made by yourself is processed. If I had a vegan kid, I wouldn't want them eating that much soy. (I'm not vegan but have been previously and wanted to peruse this to add variety to my lunches as an adult.)

Some recipes did not warrant being in a book, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a cookie-cutter shape or fake meat and cheese on crackers in the style of Lunchables. Most people can figure it out for themselves, as well as the obvious "helpful tips" like making sure to line up the bread cut in a specific shape. I didn't need to read multiple times that her kid doesn't like onions.

Also I did not like how the book was organized, as the first half of the book was suggested meal pairings. That's helpful, but it could have been placed right next to the recipes she was referencing. This book came out in 2008 when it was much less common to hear of veganism, especially vegan kids, so that's probably in part why the recipes were basic, but nowadays, there are more creative options, with the rise in veganism and health-consciousness.

[Anna Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have packed my kindergartener a PB&J sandwich for school lunch nearly every single day this school year. Anything else has come home untouched. I have been wanting to read this book in hopes of finding something else to entice him. It was a near-impossible feat, so I can’t be mad that the recipes in this cookbook won’t do it for him in this stage. Fortunately, my third-grader ventures out a little more, and I’m excited to try some new lunch ideas for him. I had several “Why didn’t I think of that?!” moments. Like “corn wheels”, which is just an ear of corn cut into disks. Easy and fun! Also great sections with snack recipes, sushi, desserts, sides, etc., some good colored pictures, and fun anecdotes from the author about her life, son, husband, and their experiences with the recipes. While the baked goods recipes do call for some more uncommon flours, she does include lots of ideas for substitutes, which I thoroughly appreciate.

[Cactus Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't just for kids' lunch boxes. If you're reluctant to tread on the vegan/plant-based path, you'll appreciate this book and - if you're like me - you'll grab for it every time you need to grab for that squeaky-wheeled grocery cart at your local market. Which leads me to my next observation: most - if not all - of everything is easy to find as long as you don't live 50 miles away from the nearest grocer and/or it's impossible to order from Amazon ;) You NEED this if you're looking to simplify but stay vegan/plant-based!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for a while, and never really actively used it for recipes. It’s a cute book, with a lot of good ideas. I recommend it for someone who has children, rather than an adult looking for lunch ideas. I do appreciate the allergen index in the back.

[Annelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I got this book! My oldest told me he was tired of peanut butter, so I was desperate to find other lunch foods for him to eat. This book is practical and fun and definitely comes from the perspective of a real, normal mom. I’m so excited to cook my way through it!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping for some easy lunch recipes for my husband and there’s a LOT of great stuff in here… especially for kids and especially for healthy options. Didn’t find much for us, but I’d definitely recommend for people with vegan kids who need variety!

[Bri Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy to make, and fun :)

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting recipes. Can't wait to make some of these at home.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really very happy with this book, it's filled with some easy great vegan recipes.

Loved it!!!!

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best vegan cookbooks I've read recently. The recipes in this book are inventive and flavorful and early on I started flagging recipes and then I realized it would be easier if I owned my own copy of this book because there were so many great recipes I wanted to try. The book has a few color photos in the middle but I'm not a fan of this. If you're going to have color photos, put them with the recipes or leave them out. Also, I would have given this great cookbook five stars but I wasn't crazy about the lunch menu listings in the beginning of the book. What I like in a cookbook is good recipes and lots of options for what I could pack in my lunches. I can make my own menus, though I do realize some people who haven't spent any time in the kitchcn might have no idea how to combine foods for a lunch. It just seemed a waste of space to me. Also I'm not a fan of listing ingredients and ideas with the page numbers you can find them on. In the quick and easy section many recipes listed page numbers. If you have to look up more than one recipe and make them, this is not so quick and easy. Quick and easy implies peanut butter on bread to me. That said, I found enough recipes in this to bring new life to my lunch box options.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is worth it for the pumpkin-carob chip muffins alone. You can find the recipe on her website too, but it is only fair to pay for this goodness.
I am serious here - I always make them with chocolate chips and they have a devoted following. My sister, very much not a vegan, made a one hour detour when I casually told her I couldn't make them for our sunday teatime with our parents because I didn't have ground flaxseed and no time to get them (back then, I didn't have anything in my kitchen to grind them, so I would go to my parents and do it in large batches to be kept in the freezer). After work, my sister went to my parents house, ground the flaxsee and delivered them to me. Just so she would have some pumpkin muffins. They are that good. My entire family is looking forward to fall and pumpkin muffins now.

Other recipes I highly (highly) recommend are Asian Miracle Dressing and Ranch Dip.

All the recipes are great - I followed her blog before the book came out and this woman is a genius.

[Pumpkin+Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the BEST cookbook that I have ever read, and, of course, the BEST vegan cookbook that I have ever tried. It's perfect for me--I try to eat vegan, but I am not an especially skilled cook, nor do I enjoy lengthy, complicated recipes. It turns out that a cookbook for busy parents who want to create simple lunch box meals is PERFECT for me. Every recipe that I've tried has worked, and everything has been delicious. I love the cherry chip brownies, I love the injera bread, I love the sauteed brussels sprouts--I love everything!

This isn't, however, a necessarily refined sugar-free cookbook, although most of the recipes are very wholesome. The author's priority is to make lunch box meals that are vegan and yet very similar to conventional lunch box meals, so there is the occasional cupcake recipe, etc., with ample sugar. I haven't tried any of those, because for a sweet vegan dessert I'm more likely to turn to Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, or something like.

[Winnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of this book is menu plans, with page numbers for easily finding the recipes, the back half of the book is the actual recipes. Of the recipes I tried the instructions were easy to follow and the ingredients easy to find. Everything tasted fine, although I did omit the extra salt in many of the recipes. I found it strange to add extra salt to recipes that already had soy sauce. Like many of the other reviewers have said I too don't like the amount of processed fake meat and cheese. While I have no problem with Tofurkey lunch meat or the like, they are more an occasional thing than a daily staple. I can understand why they were in there, I just wish there weren't so many recipes that relied on them. Over all I enjoyed this cookbook, found it useful, and very much enjoyed the stories that were throughout the book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up off the library shelf on a whim. I thought it looked interesting so I grabbed it. We're in a rut when it comes to packing school lunches, I need all of the help I can get!

**Note - We are not a vegan family.

This book is packed with great ideas for any family - vegan or not! I love the simple ideas and will definitely use the recipes as a jumping off point.

This book also served to remind me that we usually look at what constitutes "lunch food" with too small of a lens. I need to remember that lunch does not have to consist of a sandwich day after day after day.

Simple recipes, great ideas, not overly cutesy, adaptable to any age (adults who pack lunches and all ages of kids).

Recommended!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently started working full-time, and despaired over the fact that I had no idea what to bring with me for lunch. I ate a pb&j sandwich every single day between first and fifth grades, and I didn't want to go there again. So I picked up Vegan Lunchbox, and found a lot of helpful ideas and concepts for kids and confused adults alike. My only problems with the book were the fact that many recipes seemed overly long and involved for a book about lunches. There were also many anecdotes about the author's son's eating habits, which weren't very useful en masse. While some foods are more kid-friendly than others, the proclivities of you and your kids will definitely vary.

[Inder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great ideas here (and wonderful visuals - I need a bento box!) and I love the author's blog! However, I agree with other reviewers that Ms. McCann places too much emphasis on processed fake meat and soy cheese products. It may be easy for me to say (since I'm not actually vegan), but I didn't expect to see quite so many store-bought items.

It looks like her next book, Vegan Lunch Box: Around the World, may address these concerns and move the emphasis back to home cooked legumes, and other less processed sources of protein.

I'm definitely going to try some of these recipes, though.

[Brigid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book far more than I did. Unfortunately, McCann relies so heavily on faux-meat substitutes that I found very few of the recipes relevant to me as an adult or to any children I may have. For all her talk about health, highly processed soy meat is hardly any better than the chicken nuggets other children bring to school. Recipes relying on whole foods, however, were more interesting, and her suggestions for creating meals around a theme were fun and novel. I especially loved the tea party theme. I would recommend looking through this book for general ideas but then creating a healthy lunch without the meat substitutes.

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine -- but I don't love the way it was organized. The first chunk seemed to last forever, and it just listed different combinations by which to create certain lunches. Then the last section broke down the recipes. Some of these "recipes" were really just too simple to even be listed -- similar to the one on the cover. Still, it was a cute idea, I suppose -- and I liked where the author mentioned the idea of obtaining the kids' cafeteria menu for the week and recreating it day by day with vegan substitutes in order to help the kids feel more like everyone else.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have children, but I checked this out from the library to get some quick, lunch-appropriate recipe ideas. I didn't need the first part of the book with the lunch, meal plans. However, I skimmed it, and it would be helpful if I had children I had to pack lunches for everyday. There were also some little tips and tricks that anyone can use. The second part of the book is recipes. I haven't made any yet--just finished the book today--but there are several I plan to try that look quick, easy, and--I hope!--tasty.

[Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this one out because I'm trying to get better about bringing my lunch to work every day instead of just going to Jimmy John's all the time (ahem), and it says on the cover that adults will love these lunches too. But this is just not what I was looking for. Tons of fake meats and cheeses, and lots of ideas for lunches that are basically just like the one on the cover. I don't need a cookbook to tell me how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, thanks! I will look for lunch inspiration elsewhere.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I make from this book rocks. She uses quite a bit of meat replacements, but I usually substitute with real meat. I'm guessing the point is so vegan kids won't feel like an odd ball at the school lunch table. The blueberry lemon scones were to die for. The menu plans have made my life easy. Abby is homeschooled, so I usually plan two days a week to make the longer meals together in the morning. yum yum.

[Nelly Paulina · Rating 3 out of 5]

so. its a great little book with lots of great ideas for fabulous little lunch menus. there were a handful of recipes that we are trying over the holiday break (and perfecting) for inclusion in next semester's school lunches. gave three stars, because as a cookbook it wasn't all that exciting. the recipes are okay. the format so-so.

could see how it would be ENORMOUS help for the huge set of lunch-makers that gets stuck in PB&J mode.