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Author:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
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Deli-Meat-Free Sandwich Ideas for Kids & Toddlers
As I explained in Part I and Part II of this post, we used to eat a lot of deli meat and processed meats. We slowly phased out buying it by adding in other things.
Here are a whole bunch of ideas for building simple sandwiches without deli meat for kids and toddlers. There are six examples after the graphic. You could even add deli meat to a lot of them if eating less deli meat isn’t your thing.
Special note about “eliminating” things from the diet
Whenever I reduce or remove something from the diet, I think about what I was getting from that food. In the case of deli meat, we were getting protein and fat. Perhaps some iron, depending on the type of deli meat. So, I need alternatives that will taste good and will have protein, fat, and maybe some iron.
And if you have a little one under 2 who can’t manage a sandwich yet, serve it deconstructed! These are completely balanced meals whether or not you can keep your sandwich together.
Kid-Approved Sandwich Combinations
Here are 6 sandwich ideas that my kids love.
1. Blueberries and Granola Butter
Granola butter is the newest nut-free option on the market. Tastes like ah-mazing granola, but is a spread. My kids absolutely love it. It’s very allergy friendly, nut-free school-friendly, and you can get it here (affiliate link)!
2. Cheese and Veggies
Layer it up! My kids have accepted all sorts of veggies on a sandwich (assuming they are in the right mood, ha!).
3. Peanut Butter and Banana
Another classic. I mix the banana with a bit of lemon or lime juice to keep it from turning brown. Or mix it up with some cinnamon. Yum.
For kids and toddlers, look for peanut butter that contains only peanuts and/or oil, has no added sugars and offers 3 grams of fibers per serving. Learn more about the best peanut butter for toddlers and kids.
4. Blackberries and Cream Cheese
Amazing in the summer when you can find your own stash of black berries and pick them at the peak of ripeness. So delicious. Plus they are purple. You can capitalize on that, if you have a child who loves the color purple.
5. Avocado and Hummus
That’s really two spreads in one. This can be really nice for kids under 2 who are always losing their sandwich contents out the bottom.
6. Raspberries and Almond Butter
Hint on this one. Raspberries and be really juicy and make bread soggy fast. So, cut the raspberries in half and lay the juicy side facing the almond butter. No more soggy sandwiches!
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Jennifer Anderson is a registered dietitian and has a masters of science in public health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. In 2019, she founded Kids Eat in Color®, a public health resource that improves child and family nutrition and mental health. Prior to starting Kids Eat in Color® she coordinated youth nutrition programs at a food bank, performed research in inner-city food deserts, and consulted for the USDA national office SNAP-Ed program. Her academic background is in public health nutrition, cultural anthropology, and economics.
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Deli-Meat-Free Sandwich Ideas for Kids & Toddlers
As I explained in Part I and Part II of this post, we used to eat a lot of deli meat and processed meats. We slowly phased out buying it by adding in other things.
Here are a whole bunch of ideas for building simple sandwiches without deli meat for kids and toddlers. There are six examples after the graphic. You could even add deli meat to a lot of them if eating less deli meat isn’t your thing.
Special note about “eliminating” things from the diet
Whenever I reduce or remove something from the diet, I think about what I was getting from that food. In the case of deli meat, we were getting protein and fat. Perhaps some iron, depending on the type of deli meat. So, I need alternatives that will taste good and will have protein, fat, and maybe some iron.
These sandwich combos enable you to combine protein and fat. They also allow you to mix iron-rich plant foods (like spinach or peanut butter) with vitamin C sources for kids like fruits and veggies. That gives you the biggest bang for your buck in the iron department.
And if you have a little one under 2 who can’t manage a sandwich yet, serve it deconstructed! These are completely balanced meals whether or not you can keep your sandwich together.
Kid-Approved Sandwich Combinations
Here are 6 sandwich ideas that my kids love.
1. Blueberries and Granola Butter
Granola butter is the newest nut-free option on the market. Tastes like ah-mazing granola, but is a spread. My kids absolutely love it. It’s very allergy friendly, nut-free school-friendly, and you can get it here (affiliate link)!
2. Cheese and Veggies
Layer it up! My kids have accepted all sorts of veggies on a sandwich (assuming they are in the right mood, ha!).
3. Peanut Butter and Banana
Another classic. I mix the banana with a bit of lemon or lime juice to keep it from turning brown. Or mix it up with some cinnamon. Yum.
For kids and toddlers, look for peanut butter that contains only peanuts and/or oil, has no added sugars and offers 3 grams of fibers per serving. Learn more about the best peanut butter for toddlers and kids.
4. Blackberries and Cream Cheese
Amazing in the summer when you can find your own stash of black berries and pick them at the peak of ripeness. So delicious. Plus they are purple. You can capitalize on that, if you have a child who loves the color purple.
5. Avocado and Hummus
That’s really two spreads in one. This can be really nice for kids under 2 who are always losing their sandwich contents out the bottom.
6. Raspberries and Almond Butter
Hint on this one. Raspberries and be really juicy and make bread soggy fast. So, cut the raspberries in half and lay the juicy side facing the almond butter. No more soggy sandwiches!
What sandwich will you be making first?
Check out our guide for more healthy lunches for toddlers.