Sandwiches have been a school lunch staple since the invention of sliced bread. When I was a kid, we used to bring our sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper. The cool kids all had white bread sandwiches with chocolate spread, but that was only because the rest of us were stuck with baloney and mustard sandwiches.
My parents were creative cooks (it runs in the family)! And we had a whole bunch of quick, easy and delicious sandwich options that went beyond the typical meat and cheese. There were five of us eating sandwiches, with my dad and older brothers eating two apiece. Everyone took turns making sandwiches for the whole family.
The secret to making eight drool-worthy sandwiches is a simple and reliable filling. Here are some dips and spreads that are perfect for smearing on bread, wraps or crackers. They also double as a delicious dip.
No-Nut Butter & Banana Sandwiches
Total Time: 10 minutes
Peanut butter isn’t always allowed in the classroom, so this is a way to add pizzazz to a no-nut butter sandwich. When I was a kid, we always grilled our peanut butter and banana sandwiches. It makes them extra gooey and delicious. To make grilled peanut butter sandwiches, butter the outside of the bread and fry like a grilled cheese sandwich.
2 pieces of bread
2 Tbsp of salted no-nut butter
1 ripe banana
1⁄2 tsp honey
Spread the no-nut butter on one piece of bread.
Top with slices of banana.
If you want a bit of added sweetness, add a drizzle of honey.
Spread no-nut butter on the second piece of bread and press firmly onto the bananas.
Chickpea Salad
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Tuna and egg salad sandwiches are delicious, but they can sometimes be a hard sell for classroom lunches. Here is a vegetarian alternative that tastes delicious and doesn’t require your kid’s classmates to hold their noses.
1 can of chickpeas
3⁄4 cup of mayonnaise
2 celery stalks
3 Tbsp of sweet relish
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
1⁄2 tsp paprika
Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas. Place them into a bowl and mash with a fork. If you need liquid to help with mashing, add the mayonnaise. The goal is to have all the chickpeas broken apart, while keeping some texture.
Finely dice the celery. Stir it into the mashed chickpeas along with the mayonnaise, relish and mustard.
Serve as a dip with a sprinkle of paprika on top or make chickpea salad sandwiches with a piece of lettuce.
Cream Cheese & Olive
Wait Time: 1 hour, Active Time: 15 minutes
Olives aren’t typically considered “kid-friendly” foods, but this recipe is a favourite with every kid who has tried it. When mixed with cream cheese, the olives are tangy and salty rather than overwhelmingly flavourful. I’ve served it at tons of kid parties along with more typical sandwich options and this is always the first to go.
1 block of cream cheese
1⁄2 cup of green olives stuffed with pimento
3 to 4 Tbsp of mayonnaise
Place the block of cream cheese on the counter to soften. It will be easier to work with if it has sat out for at least 1 hour, however, don’t leave it out for longer than 2 hours as that is a food safety risk.
Finely chop the olives. Mix it into the cream cheese along with the mayonnaise. If it seems too thick, add more mayonnaise.
Serve as a cracker dip or a sandwich spread.
Nutty Chocolate Spread
Total Time: 10 minutes
Looking for a refined sugar-free alternative to a commercial chocolate spread? This recipe is for you! Dates provide sweetness that’s coupled with vitamins, minerals and fibre. I don’t recommend replacing the Medjool dates with other varieties as they won’t be as smooth or sweet.
8 large Medjool dates
1⁄2 cup of water
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1⁄4 cup of peanut butter or no-nut butter
Pinch of salt
Remove the pits from the dates. Place them in a blender along with the water. Pulse until the dates are a smooth purée.
Add the cocoa powder, peanut butter and salt. Continue to pulse until everything is smooth and creamy. Feel free to add more water, as needed to get it to blend. The exact amount of water will depend on your blender.
Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. This dip is delicious with fresh fruit or as a sandwich spread.
