6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (2024)

// by Phoebe Lapine // 17 comments


I purposefully chose not to try out any specific diets for The Wellness Project. The idea of restriction and rules in any form is so contrary to what I preach on this site. But I made an exception for Vegan Before 6 this month. And that’s because Mark Bittman, the “diet’s” champion and creator, has vehemently made the distinction that this is a new way of eating, not a fad food craze.

According to a study by the Humane Research Council, 10 percent of the population has tried to going vegetarian at some point. That’s a huge number.

But they also report that 84 percent of vegetarians and vegans eventually go back to eating meat. More than half of these folks gave up on their veggie ways within the first year; a third went back to meat within three months.

If these numbers don’t prove that all restrictive diets are hard to sustain, then they at least make a case that eliminating animal products in one fell swoop is not a long-term solution for eating healthier.

I love Bittman’s approach because it allows you to set some rules for yourself, but then ultimately reward your good choices by eating whatever you want. In doing so, it ensures that you get more of the good–fruits and vegetables–and less of the bad processed foods and factory-farmed meat during the day. But after 6pm, you are free as a bird to freebase bacon fat if that’s what makes you happy.

Despite the freedom to submit to night time edible wanderlust, Bittman reported that his new system actually had an interesting halo effect on his overall habits. After he got used to the diet, he realized how great veg-centric food tasted and how good it made him feel. The epiphany gradually caused any sort of pig out at night to lose some of its luster. The main reward at the end of the day became the flexibility to embrace his cravings, even if those urges pointed him towards fennel instead of fois gras.

Can I get a healthy hedonism Amen?

In dealing with my Hashimoto’s diagnosis, I’ve already been forced to find my way to a more balanced diet. As a result, I eat a lot less meat at home–especially during the day when Charlie’s not around to scream MAAAA THE MEATLOAF!! But I wanted to give myself some checks and balances this month to see exactly how dependent I am on animal products.

Trying VB6 in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market Challenge made things a little easier. Down in Sewanee, Tennessee, where I was holed up writing for a lot of this month, there were hardly any organic meat options to be had, so my homemade meals ended up being primarily vegetarian. And I found myself turning to the FMP archives for ideas!

Here are some of the vegan recipes I’ve been making for myself these past few weeks. If you’re giving VB6 a test drive, I highly recommend incorporating some of the below into your routine.

Stay tuned for the full VB6 verdict when I report back on Gut Guilt month next week!

Xo
Phoebe

1. Vegan Curried Cauliflower Soup

2. Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

3. Mushroom Tacos with Mexican Green Rice

4. Red Lentil and Spinach Masala

5. Curried Veggie Burgers

6. Chickpea Ratatouille

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Comments

  1. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (10)Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    Hello, Phoebe! That’s a really interesting statistic about vegetarians jumping ship. My sis did that after 7 years – it was the smell of bacon that did it!
    A great collection of recipes here – I like the look of the curried cauliflower soup!

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (11)Phoebe Lapine says

      haha I hear that the bacon did it over and over! My mom was a veg for many years and it was the smell of hotdogs at a BBQ when she was preggers with me that got her. Hope you enjoy the soup and thanks for reading!

      Reply

  2. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (12)Alessandra // the foodie teen says

    Loved that article! I’m a former veggie, but I really do feel that being vegetarian has helped me appreciate sustainable biodynamics and the whole industry a lot more. Loving those recipes – everything looks delicious!

    Reply

  3. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (14)Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says

    Ohh, yum! I wish I saw all of these back in the day when I was a vegetarian. All my meals were so BORING!

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (15)Phoebe Lapine says

      haha – is that one of the reasons you went back?? hopefully you’ll still try some! xo

      Reply

  4. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (16)Leah says

    I always need new vegan dish ideas!
    I’ve been dabbling with VB6 for over a year now — I’m not strict about it, but it’s definitely changed my outlook and habits while giving me the freedom to do what I want, which satisfies my rebellious side.

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (17)Phoebe Lapine says

      that’s so great to hear Leah! Glad you like the framework too. I think it’s a good approach to tweak your habits. xo

      Reply

  5. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (18)Millie | Add A Little says

    These all look so delicious Phoebe! I’m so glad I’ve found your blog – gorgeous recipes and photos! 🙂

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (19)Phoebe Lapine says

      aww thanks Millie!! I owe you an email 🙂 sorry!

      Reply

  6. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (20)Rosanna says

    Being vegan is not only a choice for better health but also a choice of helping the environment and of course the animals.. You are telling me that if you saw how animals are treated you are still able to eat “bacon”, chicken, etc?

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (21)Phoebe Lapine says

      Hi Rosanna, all those reasons are exactly why I’ve been trying to reduce my animal intake and investing in higher quality protein that’s more humanely raised. As the statistics show, going permanently full-time vegan is not sustainable for a lot of people. I think this approach is a really great way of luring the masses into a less-meat-centric lifestyle. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  7. 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (22)Jillian says

    Phoebe, I never cook but this looked so easy!! It came out AMAZING, thank you!! eating it for lunch today 🙂

    Reply

    • 6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (23)Phoebe Lapine says

      OMF Jill!! Which recipe did you try?? I’m so thrilled!

      Reply

6 Easy, Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes | Healthy Lunch Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What can I eat if I'm vegan and gluten-free? ›

Staples such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, lentils, nuts, and seeds are naturally free from gluten. Instead of eating cereals for breakfast, aim for a bowl of oatmeal, chia pudding, or soygurt with homemade granola. For dinner, replace pasta with rice, beans, or lentils, and add some tofu or tempeh on the side.

What do gluten intolerant people eat for lunch? ›

Gluten-free lunch recipes
  • Easy egg muffins. A star rating of 4.2 out of 5. ...
  • Air-fryer corn on the cob. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
  • Tuna, avocado & quinoa salad. ...
  • Air-fryer gammon. ...
  • Puy lentil salad with beetroot & walnuts. ...
  • Black bean & pineapple salad bowl. ...
  • Broccoli and kale green soup. ...
  • Grilled nectarine & burrata salad.

What vegan food is made from gluten? ›

Seitan is a plant-based meat substitute made from wheat gluten that mimics the flavor and texture of chicken. You can buy it in many health food supermarkets, or you can make it yourself. It's typically made out of vital wheat gluten, an ingredient that has a similar texture to flour but is mostly, well, gluten.

Is it easy to be a gluten-free vegan? ›

All you need to do is avoid animal products and anything with gluten. It may be tricky to find certain things—a gluten-free vegan pizza that you enjoy, for example—but, it's fairly unrestrictive except for severe cases where you must avoid any foods that aren't made in a dedicated gluten-free environment.

What do gluten-free vegans eat for protein? ›

Amaranth and quinoa —at about 8 to 9 grams of protein per cup of cooked grain—are among your best bets for packing in the protein. Other whole grains including millet (6g of protein per cup),2 buckwheat (6g of protein per cup), and teff (10g of protein per cup),3 make for good vegan and gluten-free options.

What happens when you go vegan and gluten-free? ›

You can be on a gluten-free vegan diet, where you are eliminating animal protein, eggs, dairy, and fish, as you would as a vegan, but you'd also have to get rid of gluten-containing grains, such as wheat and rye, as well as some oats (you need to check labels to make sure they say gluten-free, as some oats can have ...

Are potatoes gluten-free? ›

The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. Potatoes aren't grains, they're a type of starchy vegetable. That's good news for people who can't tolerate gluten because they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Does rice contain gluten? ›

Yes, all rice (in its natural form) is gluten-free. Rice is one of the most popular gluten-free grains for people with celiac disease. Many gluten-free packaged goods are made with rice flour instead of wheat flour.

What is vegan for celiac disease? ›

Following a vegan diet with CD is very possible once you know how. Instead of wheat pasta and breads, my cupboards are filled with brown rice pasta and buckwheat pasta, quinoa and egg-free gluten-free bread. Instead of cow's milk, I use a diverse range of alternative milks including soya, almond, rice, even hemp!

Which sweets are gluten-free? ›

Gluten Free Sweets
  • Barratt(5)
  • Glisten(1)
  • Haribo(2)
  • Kingsway(28)
  • Maoam(1)
  • Skittles(1)
  • Sweetzone(1)
  • Swizzels(1)

Will I lose weight on a gluten-free vegan diet? ›

A long term goal of eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet is an important part of healthy living. This type of diet may also encourage weight loss (and a better sense of well-being) because overall calorie intake may decrease. If you were overweight before starting a gluten-free diet, your weight loss may be welcome.

Is hummus gluten-free? ›

Hummus is usually gluten-free, but not always. Traditional hummus is naturally gluten-free as are most brands such as Sabra Hummus. There are reports out there of certain brands either including flour in their hummus or just declaring that their hummus may contain wheat and/or is made on shared equipment.

What can I eat if I am gluten and dairy intolerance? ›

Foods that do not include gluten and dairy include chicken, fish, legumes, meat, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice, corn, and products specifically labels "gluten and dairy-free."

What vegans should eat to lose weight? ›

Focus on Whole Foods: Encourage individuals to prioritize whole, unprocessed plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These nutrient-dense options are lower calorie density and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, supporting weight loss and overall health.

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