Ask a skeptic what vegans eat for lunch and they'll paint you a pretty sad picturelike a plate of plain lettuce with some beans and chopped veggies or some sort of bland AF vegetable soup.

Haters gonna hateand lunch can be tricky enough as it is, even if you haven't taken all animal foods off the table. I mean, you want something that is both easy to make in advance and interesting enough that you'll actually look forward to it all morning long. Plus, it's gotta be decently nutritiousunless of course you want to feel sluggish all afternoon.

Well, guess what: Limited as you may think they are, vegan lunches check all of these boxesand pretty easily. Vegan meals can be very meal prep-friendly because preparing veggies and plant-based sources of protein is simple and doesn't require a ton of time in the kitchen, says nutritionist Maggie Michalczyk, RD. "Plus, most of the components (with the exception of some veggies) will last for a few days.

Her one major tip for preparing vegan lunches? Make sure you incorporate a source of plant-based protein, so that the meal has more staying power. Michalczyk recommends building your lunch around a staple like chickpeas, quinoa, chickpea pasta, lentils, grains, or nuts and seeds.

Another plus: You don't even need to fire up your stovetop or oven to prep most vegan proteins. (Three cheers for canned beans.)

Are you sold, or are you sold? Get your plant power onand keep your eats interestingwith these 40 easy vegan lunch ideas.

See the article here:

40 Vegan Lunch Ideas That Are Quick, Easy, And Delicious - Women's Health