Delicious, Budget-Friendly Lunch Ideas for Vegetarian Kids!

Ankita Kamat

Confused what to prepare for your kids’ lunch-box on your budget? Wondering what are the best and cheap vegetarian lunch ideas for school kids?

In my current blog, I’ve come up with tasty and cheap lunch ideas for vegetarian school students.

15 Cheap Vegetarian Lunch Ideas for School Kids

Cook these budget-friendly vegetarian meals for kids to pack for their lunch-

1.

Budget-Friendly Nutella and Banana Sushi is a Vegetarian Lunch for School Kids

Price: Between 0.80 and 1.50 USD per serving.

You just need 3 cheapest ingredients. 1 banana, 1 tablespoon Nutella and 1 whole-wheat tortilla to wrap. Kids like to eat this tasty food during lunch.

Spread Nutella to the tortilla and keep the banana on it and wrap properly. Then cut and make 2 cm thick pieces of rolled banana. Pack it for a kid’s lunch box without worrying about taste and your budget.

2.

Budget-Friendly Chia Banana Energy Bites for Kids Lunch

Price: Between 2 and 5 USD for 18 balls.

You need 2 cups of rolled oats which usually costs between 20 and 80 cents. Also, one ripe banana which hardly costs 15 cents and ⅓ cup of peanut butter (100 grams) that costs around 40 cents.

Mash banana and mix all the ingredients along with chia seeds, half cup roasted peanuts, salt, and ground cinnamon. Make balls and bake them. Budget-friendly energy bites are ready for kids’ lunch-boxes.

SUGGESTED-

| Budget-Friendly Lunch Ideas for Kids |

3.

Mushroom Pasta is Budget-Friendly and Delicious Lunch for School Kids

Price: Between 2 and 4 USD for 2-3 servings.

You need 200 grams of mushrooms which will cost you around 1.5 USD. You can choose your favourite pasta which generally costs around 20 cents for 1 cup. 

Cook pasta and mushrooms, you can add other cheap ingredients like onion, garlic and tomato sauce to make a mouth-watering lunch for school kids on your budget.

4.

Budget-Friendly Tomato Veg-Omelet for Lunch that School Kids will Find Tasty

Price: Between 0.50 and 2 USD for 2 servings.

Indian tomato omelet is a cheap and tasty vegetarian lunch idea. Mix gram flour, chopped tomatoes, onions, green chilies, cumin seeds, salt and spices by adding water.

Spread 1-2 tablespoon oil on a pan and then spread batter. Cook both the sides to make the tomato omelet crispy. Kids like to eat such budget-friendly crispy veg omelets for lunch.

5.

Banana Pancakes are Cheap and Best Lunch for Vegetarian Children

Price: Between 0.55 and 0.75 USD for 4 pancakes (per serving).

One banana and two tablespoons of ground chia seeds are enough for making budget-friendly pancakes. The price per banana is around 15 cents and 30 grams of chia seeds (2 tablespoons) costs you around 40 cents.

Mix mashed banana and ground chia seeds properly. Use a teaspoon of budget-friendly coconut oil to fry the pancake. Tasty and cheap pancake is ready to pack for school kids’ lunch-boxes.

6.

Cheap and Tasty Veg Chickpeas Scramble for School Kids to Have for Lunch

Price: Between 2 and 4 USD for 2 servings.

Take 1 cup of canned chickpeas which will cost between 0.50 and 1 USD. You also need 2 cups of chopped spinach which costs anywhere between 1 and 4 USD.

Fry a chopped onion and garlic by using a tablespoon of oil. Add mashed chickpeas, tomato, ground pepper, salt, turmeric powder. After a few minutes add spinach and mix well. School kids will like this budget-friendly lunch.

7.

Cheapest Salad with Green Gram Sprouts is a Healthy Choice for Vegetarian Kids’ Lunch

Price: Between 2 and 3.5 USD for 2 servings.

Preparing a budget-friendly salad needs 200 grams of green gram sprouts which costs between 1.5 and 3 USD. In addition, use cost-effective ingredients such as a chopped tomato and onion.

Mix sprouts with all the ingredients by adding salt, lemon juice, and ground pepper. Your kids enjoy eating budget-friendly salad for lunch.

8.

Cheap Spinach Corn Sandwiches for Kids’ Meal

Price: Between 1 and 3 USD for 2 sandwiches.

It requires 1 cup of chopped spinach which will cost anywhere between 0.50 and 2 USD. You can use 100 grams of canned sweet corn which costs between 20 and 40 cents.

Fry finely chopped onion in butter. Add spinach, corn, ground pepper, and salt. Mix well and pour on the slices of bread to make budget-friendly sandwiches for children’s lunch.

9.

Apple Quinoa is a Perfect Choice for Lunch for Kids on Your Budget

Price: Between 2 and 3.5 USD for 2 servings.

Two large apples cost between 0.80 and 1.5 USD. Also, you need half a cup of quinoa (85 grams) which will cost you around 65 cents.

Cook bite-sized apple pieces along with quinoa in boiling water and stir in cinnamon. Kids will like these low-budget tasty apple bites for lunch.

10.

Sweet Potato Hash is a Cost-Effective Meal for a Kid’s Lunch-Box

Price: Between 1 and 2.5 USD for 2-3 servings.

You require 2 large sweet potatoes which costs anywhere between 0.50 and 1.20 USD. 

Roast sweet potato cube pieces. Also, use cheap ingredients like onion, garlic, salt and pepper. School going kids find it interesting to have this budget-friendly meal.

11.

Inexpensive Roasted Cabbage Steaks for Kids’ Lunch-Box on Budget

Price: Between 1.5 and 4 USD for 4 steaks.

You need 2 small cabbage heads which will cost between 1 and 3.5 USD. In addition, it requires other cheap ingredients like 2 tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of garlic powder.

Cut the cabbage stems and have 4 discs of cabbage which are less than one inch in thickness. Apply olive oil coating, salt, garlic powder and paprika to cabbage discs. Bake them and give them to kids for lunch on your budget.

12.

Cheapest Green Peas and Peanuts Salad that Vegetarian Kids will Like to Eat for Lunch

Price: Between 0.80 and 2 USD for 3 servings.

Preparing crunchy salad needs 200 grams of canned peas which costs less than 50 cents. You will easily get a handful of peanuts in your kitchen.

Just mix green peas, roasted peanuts, chopped onion, salt and ground pepper. Your school going children find it delicious to have budget-friendly green peas for lunch.

13.

Cheapest Garlic Mushroom Sandwich is a Vegetarian Option for School Going Kids to Have for Lunch

Price: Between 2 and 4 USD for 2-3 servings.

For making a budget-friendly sandwich you need French bread that costs around 1 USD for 8-10 slices. You need 150 grams of mushroom which will cost around 1 USD. 

Enhance the taste by using cheap ingredients like chopped garlic, onion, tomato and pepper. Make a toast of French and and fill the garlic mushroom to make cheapest sandwiches for a kid’s lunch-box.

14.

Budget-Friendly Smashed Pinto Bean Tacos for School Kids is a Perfect Vegetarian Option

Price: Between 1 and 3 USD for 2 servings.

You need 200 grams of pinto beans which costs 0.40 and 1 USD. Have 2 tacos shells which cost around 50 cents.

Fry all the budget-friendly ingredients like chopped onion and tomato in a pan. Add pinto beans, garlic powder, chili powder and salt. Cook well and smash the beans. Fill in the tacos and let kids enjoy low-budget lunch.

15.

Budget-Friendly Vegetarian Salad Wraps for School Kids

Price: Between 2 and 3.5 USD for 2 servings.

Have 2 tacos shells which cost around 50 cents. 200 grams of green gram sprouts which cost between 1.5 and 3 USD. In addition, use cost-effective ingredients such as a chopped tomato and onion.

Mix sprouts with all the ingredients by adding salt, lemon juice, and ground pepper. Make budget-friendly green gram salad wraps for kid’s lunch by using tacos or tortillas. 

I hope now you have got clarity about how to make cheap lunches for school kids with vegetarian options. Try these cheap vegetarian lunch ideas for kids and share your experience with me.

Ankita Kamat

I'm Ankita Kamat, the creator of Frugal Beat, a blog dedicated to frugal living. Join me in exploring practical ways to save money, reduce waste and live a purposeful life. Let's embrace frugality as a lifestyle together.