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Turn Your Donation Into a Meal: Plant-Based Meal-in-a-Bag Kits
Across the country, food banks and community organizations are serving more families than ever before. With food costs continuing to rise and support programs like SNAP and WIC facing uncertainty, these organizations are working hard to meet growing demand with limited resources.
Even small contributions can make a real difference—and one simple idea can help make those contributions go further: the Meal-in-a-Bag.
Turning Donations Into Ready-to-Make Meals
A Meal-in-a-Bag takes a handful of affordable pantry staples and pairs them with a recipe card so recipients can turn those ingredients into a complete, nourishing meal.
This isn’t a new idea—many community groups, volunteers, and creators around the country have been assembling meal-in-a-bags for years as a creative, hands-on way to help families eat well. We’re building on that inspiration and sharing a version that aligns with our mission to promote healthy, affordable, plant-based eating.
Each bag includes a printed card for our Yes You Can Black Bean Chili, a hearty, flavorful recipe built around shelf-stable ingredients that are inexpensive, accessible, and easy to find.
What to Include
If you’d like to assemble a bag, here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 can black beans (no-salt-added if possible)
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can corn
- 1 packet chili seasoning (or small spice containers of chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder)
- 1 bag or box of instant brown rice
- 1 printed recipe card (download above)
You can place the items in a large ziplock, reusable, or recyclable bag. Be sure to check with your local food bank or pantry first to confirm what types of items they accept.
If You’d Like to Donate Individual Items Instead
If you’d rather contribute individual items instead of a meal-in-a-bag, we’ve also created a Plant-Based Donation List featuring affordable, in-demand foods that help families prepare healthy meals. That list was developed with guidance from Food for Life instructor Jill Erickson, co-founder of Flourish Food Market—a vegan food pantry in Minneapolis—and highlights the kinds of items that were most popular among pantry shoppers.
Why This Matters
The Meal-in-a-Bag builds on our ongoing work to show how plant-based eating can be both nourishing and affordable.
In our recent post, 40+ Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes, we highlight how staples like beans, lentils, rice, and oats can stretch grocery dollars without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. And in How to Eat Plant-Based on a Budget: A Dietitian’s Guide, we share practical strategies for planning affordable, plant-based meals that can fit any household budget.
Research continues to show that meals built around whole or minimally processed plant foods—like beans, grains, tofu, and vegetables—are often more affordable than those centered on meat and dairy.
A 2024 Physicians Committee study published in JAMA Network Open found that participants following a low-fat vegan diet spent 19% less on food—saving about $1.80 per day—compared with those eating a typical American diet. The difference came largely from spending less on animal products and added fats, even after slightly higher spending on vegetables and grains.
Join Us
If you assemble a Meal-in-a-Bag, we’d love to see it. Share a photo on social media and tag us so we can highlight your efforts and encourage even more people to take part!
Whether you donate a single can of beans, a full bag, or something from our broader list, your contribution helps make healthy, plant-based eating more accessible to everyone.
Together, we can turn small, tangible actions into meaningful change.
Xavier Toledo, MS, RD, LDN
Xavier is a plant-based registered dietitian passionate about making nutrition education engaging and accessible. He bridges the science with practical guidance, helping people translate evidence-based recommendations into simple, actionable steps for everyday life.
