The back-to-school season is here, and we all know how important it is to pack a lunch that will make our kids happy and satisfied. When it comes to delicious and easy lunch options, sandwiches are always a winner! A yummy sandwich is a classic lunchtime favorite, offering endless possibilities for creativity and flavor. I’ve rounded up my 15 favorite back-to-school sandwiches that are not only tasty but also a breeze to make.
Tips to Make Sandwiches More Interesting for Kids
While sandwiches are a tried and true lunchtime favorite, they can be a bit mundane after a while. Making sandwiches more interesting for kids can be a fun and creative way to get them excited about lunchtime. Here are some tips to make sandwiches more enjoyable and appealing for kids:
- Use Fun Shapes: Make sandwiches visually appealing by using cookie cutters to create fun shapes like stars, hearts, or animals. Think Monogram Sandwiches and Two-Tone Sandwiches. These playful shapes will instantly spark joy and have your kid excited about what shape they’re getting that day!
- Add Colorful Ingredients: Brighten up sandwiches with colorful fruits and veggies like strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, or bell peppers. The vibrant hues will make the meal more enticing. After all, we eat with our eyes first!
- Try Unique Spreads: Experiment with different spreads such as flavored cream cheese, hummus, guacamole, or basil pesto. These tasty spreads will add exciting new flavors to their sandwiches.
- Build Your Own: Give your kids a sense of ownership by providing an assortment of ingredients and letting them build their own sandwiches. This hands-on approach will make lunchtime interactive and enjoyable.
- Mini Sandwich Fun: Make lunchtime fun-sized with mini versions of their favorite sandwiches using slider buns, small rolls or just cutting them into little “sammies” as we like to call them. These adorable mini sandwiches are perfect for little hands.
- Add a Sweet Twist: Add a touch of sweetness with sliced apples, a drizzle of honey, or a honey mustard dressing. This delightful contrast will elevate the taste. We love this Apple Pie Panini for a savory and sweet combo.
- Serve as Kabobs: Thread sandwich ingredients onto skewers to make sandwich kabobs. This presentation adds a playful twist and makes eating more enjoyable!
- Make it a Wrap: Swap regular bread with tortilla wraps or lettuce leaves for a different texture and presentation like I do for Rainbow Roll-Up Sandwiches and Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps.
Kid Friendly Sandwiches for School Lunch
Peanut Butter and Jelly Skewers
Everyone knows and loves a good classic PB&J, but sometimes you just want to make something a little more fun. PB&J Skewers are a blast to make and kids love anything on a stick!
Monogram Sandwich
Monogram Sandwiches are a fun personal touch to your kids lunch time! It takes something ordinary and makes it special.
Egg Pesto Melt
My kids love a good egg sandwich and ask for this Egg Pesto Melt all the time. The pesto really takes it to the next level!
Animal Face Toast
I'm convinced there's nothing cuter than these Animal Face Toasts! Imagine your kid's eyes lighting up when they open their lunch box to one of these cuties.
Egg Salad Sandwich
Egg Salad Sandwiches are so easy to make and this recipe is absolutely delicious. Tons of protein and tasty! A win-win.
Banana Peanut Butter Roll Ups
All you need to make these Banana Roll Ups is your favorite nut or seed butter, a banana and a tortilla! Add a drizzle of honey for a little extra sweetness!
PBJ Pancakes Sandwiches
Make PB&J's more fun by using peanut butter pancakes as the "bread" and your favorite jam in the center!
Two Tone Sandwich
School lunch should be fun to eat but also easy to make! These Two Tone Sandwiches are super cute and ready in minutes!
Kid-Friendly “Sushi” Sandwiches
When you want the simplicity of making a sandwich but with a more exciting look, Sushi Sandwiches are the ticket.
Rainbow Roll Up Sandwiches
Rainbows for Days! I don't know any kid who wouldn't love to open up their lunch box to these Rainbow Roll Up Sandwiches!
Cucumber Cream Cheese Sammies
Cut these sammies into 4 squares or use a cookie cutter to make fun mini sandwich shapes!
Uncrustables
Homemade uncrustables come in any shape you can dream up and are so easy to make!
Pizza Pinwheels
These pinwheels are really like a pizza "sandwich" because the filling is savory, kind of like a ham and cheese sandwich, but much cooler looking.
Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps
Low carb but highly delicious, these Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps are a great option for lunch.
Turkey Pickle Roll Ups
Turkey Pickle Roll Ups are a simple yet fun addition to any school lunch.
Chocolate Sunbutter Pancake Sandwiches
Chocolate Sunbutter Pancake Sandwiches are perfect for school lunches (especially at nut-free schools) or as a satisfying snack!
Rice Cracker “Face” Sandwiches
Here are some Rice Cracker "Face" Sandwiches to help you feel extra happy today! Making lunch fun is the best way to make sure it gets eaten!
Get creative when it comes to sandwich making and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. If you need even more tips for school lunch, get my Weelicious Lunches Cookbook filled with innovative solutions for quick, delicious, easy-to-make, kid-friendly lunch box meals that are perfect for back-to-school!
Those banana dog bites look so cute. All the sandwiches look amazing!
I am tied of my son’s excuses for not eating n hope u can help me with it.
Check out my Facebook page! I post a photos of my son’s school lunch every day! These are the actual foods that we pack in his lunch box and he eats at school. He is currently in a nut-free class so the most recent photos are nut-free! I have 4 different school lunch albums on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151207269101609.495197.248062301608&type=3
I love your blog but would like some lunch ideas that taste good after being packed for a few hours and also nut free choices as my childrens school is a nut fre zone do to allergies,thank you
I need good recipes ,some with chicken and vegetables for my toddler baby
my daughter doesn’t like ham and cheese sandwiches or pb&J’s. but she likes cucumbers…I made her the cucumber cream cheese sammie for lunch today…she loved it!
Thats mean to even suggest that a child should be forced to sit alone in the hall because of something beyond their control. We shouldn’t make them feel different, but instead be a little self-sacrificing and go nut free. It’s only for 6 hours. You’ve got nothing to lose and a child’s heart to gain.
We’re in Canada, and neither my daughter’s preschool or daycare is nut free. Thank God! Also, I’m a teacher, and my school isn’t nut free. If a child has a nut allergy and isn’t comfortable in his classroom at lunch time because of possible nuts around, he could eat in another part of the classroom or in the hall. If it’s an extreme allergy, then just that classroom has to be nut free.
I love these!! I just told the hubster I want to be super mom and make my girl cute little sammiches for school. This is perfect. OMG waffles, brilliant. I’m going to make these for me too 🙂 yum!!!
Such fun ideas! I’ll be testing them on my niece and nephews this fall!
These are GREAT ideas!! Definitely taking note of these for future sandwich eating 🙂
I love the idea of the banana tortilla with peanut butter. I think it would hold up great. You can even leave out the banana and just have a peanut butter tortilla wrap. I would eat these all the time when I had the metabolism of a 20 year old. They are especially yummy if you warm them in the microwave.! Maybe raisins instead of bananas.
It is time for me to try some of these sandwiches again now that my toddler is more adventurous. I certainly want to try them! There’s no lunch at his nursery school (mornings for just 2 hrs), but we love to pack a lunch & picnic at the park or zoo about once a week. Your site continues to be our favorite go-to recipe finder for the whole family. I’m so grateful for it (& the pre-ordered book!) Many thanks Catherine!
I love these ideas but my kids won’t eat any of this. I agree they would think the bread is soggy and bananas have to be just right. I don’t blame them i am kind of the same way. Maybe it is my fault. My 9 year old just started eating bread otherwise everything has always be deconstructed. It is hard when a kid won’t eat a sandwich ever! I love your ideas but it would be great maybe for some more basic type of things. Maybe i could deconstruct the sandwhiches. Hmmmm. It is hard my kids eat a lot of great food but plain plain plain. They like no sauces or flavors and lots of protein. I love your blog just wish my kids we less picky about consistency and how food looks.
Love your ideas! Thank you!
You are very lucky!! Everything is nut free in Canada now – playgroups, schools, camps, everything. It can be annoying but I get it.
How do your schools, etc handle nut allergies?