Need help with lunch and dinner ideas

[midnightrae]

I can never think of anything to make for lunch or dinner. I am allergic to dairy and I have an egg intolerance. I also mostly don't eat gluten because it makes me sick, though it is not as bad if I eat it like once a day. I love salad, but I get tired of eating it all the time and I can only eat so much vegan and gluten free mac n cheese. Any ideas?

[darkling_glory]

I'm vegan so here is my rotation:

Veg stir-fries with tofu and different sauces to change things up. (I like curries).

Lentil tacos or veggie fajitas. Are you vegetarian? Regular tacos then.

For lunches, I like wraps. If you can find gluten free tortillas you can stuff them with all sorts of things - roasted red pepper, avocado, smashed up white beans, turkey, etc...

Good old fashioned PB&J (on gluten-free bread).

Soups. There are few dairy-free soups on the market. You'd have to check for gluten. But making your own soup is super easy and yummy.

[midnightrae]

Thank you so much for your suggestions.

[darkling_glory]

Oh, I wonder if you would like spaghetti sauce with marinara and meat sauce (if you eat meat). You don't need dairy with it and you don't have to spend a fortune on GF pasta either.

You should look at the Happy Herbivore meal plans. They are all vegan, soy, and gluten free. You can add in meat if you want it, but she's got lots of ideas -- and she definitely has some exciting ideas for salads.

Last week I had a spinach salad with lentils, pear, red onion & raspberry vinaigrette. It was really yummy!

[msmerymac]

This is a pretty good vegan lunch I've been eating lately, based on a Happy Herbivore meal:

- 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced, and cooked in the microwave (I throw a little water in with the potato and cover the bowl to "steam" it and this seems to work)
- about 3/4 cup (1/2 can of black beans), drained and rinsed
- 2 green onions, chopped
- about 1 cup of diced mango (thawed, if frozen)
- about 1/4 cup salsa
- hot sauce to taste
- a sprinkle of cilantro

I steam the potato for about 5 minutes, then add the black beans in 1 container. At lunch time, I microwave the combo for another 2+ minutes. I pack the other ingredients in a separate container and then add them to the potato/bean mixture. Voila. Vegan, gluten-free and low fat.

Quinoa might also be a nice addition. You can also make a lot of dishes gluten free by using quinoa or rice. For example, I make tabouli with quinoa - I just cook it and let it cool, then add chopped tomato, cucumber, parsley, salt, pepper, oil, lemon juice and onion.

Also, hummus with veggies and maybe gluten-free crackers. Or hummus and veggies in a wrap/sandwich.

[midnightrae]

Thanks again. That lunch sounds delicious. I'll have to check out the happy herbivore. I eat meat, but not much. I prefer fish over red meat.

[livinitup]

Soup. Pick a favorite.

Separate into single servings and freeze. Then defrost and serve at will.