For the past decade I’ve been touring with a professional children’s theatre company all across Southern California. It’s one of the best jobs in the world getting to bring theatre into the lives of children and see how the impact is immediate. We bring children onstage to perform with us, and they transform into fairies, old men, pigs, roosters, princesses… While they transform into characters, I so often see them also transform from shy and unsure to confident and beaming while they bow in front of their peers. It is such a treat and a blessing to be a part of it.
I often arrive while students are eating breakfast and finish around lunchtime. Again and again, I’ve been surprised by the trays the students are carrying. The few fruits and vegetables generally come from cans and look wholly unappealing. The remainder of the lunch tray is varying shades of beige and a variety of simple carbs and highly processed meats. That’s why when I go to the schools to perform, I always pack a lunch, and if I had a child, I’d be packing one for them too. Our children deserve the best.
Today I made myself a Better-Than-Tuna Salad sandwich from Vegan Table, and it would be great in the lunch of a little one or someone adult-sized. It has a chickpea base and includes diced bell pepper, carrots, and celery, plus omega 3-rich walnuts. (For schools that don’t allow nuts, these could easily be omitted.) Best of all, no cooking was involved, and it all came together really quickly using only a food processor and a cutting board. It was incredibly good, simple, and tasty.
Then tonight, I packed my lunch for early morning shows. I put all of the ingredients for wraps in my To-Go Ware. I included Homemade Hummus, spinach, cucumber, bell pepper, carrots, onions, and tomatoes and collard leaves for wrapping. (Of course, tortillas would also work.) I added some fruit, and it was ready to go. The wraps are fresh and vibrant, and the creamy hummus is filling and packed with protein and powers me through show after show.
Tags: better-than-tuna salad, colleen patrick-goudreau, hummus, to-go ware, vegan, vegan cooking, vegan table, vegetarian
I’m very spoiled – she makes me lunches like this to bring to work all the time!
That sounds fantastic!
Love your idea of wrapping in collard leaves!