{Sponsored}
One of my biggest school-year challenges is packing lunch for my son. While he isn’t overly picky, he has a handful of food intolerances that challenge me to get creative. And as the school year progresses, inevitably he tires of the same handful of meals I pack based on his likes and dislikes. I often rotate between hot and cold meals to give my son a bit of variety, and if I have time, I like to get creative with Bento Boxes. While in Bentonville this Summer, Smucker’s and Jif were on-hand to help inspire new ways of packing school lunches.
My son is already following in his foodie mother’s footsteps eating sushi and asking for green juices from our local juice bar. So when I ask him if I can pack him a sandwich, his protests are loud and clear! But if I deconstruct his sandwich, cut the bread out into fun shapes, or otherwise alter the traditional sandwich, it suddenly becomes “the best lunch ever!” Inspired by Jif’s brilliant idea for PB & J Sushi Rolls, today I’m sharing 3 Sushi Sandwiches your kids will love.
Our school is a peanut-free zone, so while my kids LOVE peanut butter, they don’t enjoy sitting at a separate table away from their friends during lunchtime. Our local Walmart carries Justin’s Almond Butter as a peanut butter alternative and my kids can eat them by the packets sans jelly or bread! Our first “sushi sandwich” takes the classic PB & J and elevates it to gourmet class with a thin layer of Almond Butter, Smucker’s Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread, and Bimbo’s Soft Wheat Bread.
To make Sushi Sandwiches:
- Cut off the crusts using a sharp knife.
- Roll out the bread until it is flat.
- Add a thin layer of almond butter and fruit spread.
- Roll into a tight spiral.
- Cut spiral into 4 pieces.
Once you’ve made these Almond Butter and Jelly Sushi Rolls, you can begin getting creative with your fillings. The second Sushi Sandwich I created was a simple Ham and Cheese Roll. As a mom concerned about the ingredients in foods, I appreciate that Walmart offers families deli meats made without nitrates, nitrites, hormones or MSG like those from Hormel’s Natural Choice. I paired this ham with Sargento’s Natural Deli Style Cheddar Cheese Slices. Be sure to cut the ham and cheese slices to the length/width of your bread before rolling and cutting into spiral pieces. Generally, my kids prefer their “sandwiches” dry without spreads, but you could easily add a thin layer of herbed mayonnaise or flavored mustard depending on your kids’ taste preferences.
Many parents struggle to encourage their children to eat vegetables, so my last Sushi Sandwich features kid-friendly favorites including mini carrots and cucumber slices. For a protein boost, add a layer of red pepper hummus. Be sure to cut each veggie to the length of your sandwich and then cut into 4 spiral pieces. My son LOVED these because he told me they most resembled sushi! You can vary the veggies and the flavors of hummus or even swap out the hummus for herbed cream cheese.
Once I made these Sushi Sandwiches, I placed them neatly in Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox Kids Lunch Kit. These BPA-free modular containers snap together and include a Blue Ice tray to keep foods cold and everything organized. Rubbermaid offers both tall and flat versions of these lunch kits to fit in nearly any type of lunch box/bag. To complete your child’s lunch, add cut-up vegetables, fruit, nuts, crackers, or any other finger foods your kids enjoy.
While making lunches can be stressful, frustrating, or even monotonous, with a bit of creativity you can put together lunches your kids will love while introducing them to a rainbow of healthy foods.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Leave a Reply