10 Easy Sandwiches Your Kids Will Love Eating in School or at Home
Sandwiches are versatile, delicious, and easy to make. And they’re super-convenient, too, because your little one can take them to school or eat them at home. With so many kinds of vegan meats, cheeses, and spreads available in stores everywhere, it’s simpler than ever to make vegan versions of the classic sandwiches that you grew up eating for your own growing kids—and there’s no limit to the new ones that you can create. Here are some of our favorite sandwich filling recipes to get you started!
1. Vegan Turkey or Ham Sandwich
There are tons of options for vegan deli slices, so your little ones can easily sink their teeth into a vegan ham and cheese sandwich, a “roast beef” sandwich with sauerkraut and mustard, or a “turkey” sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayo. You can even combine some vegan pepperoni, salami, and ham on toasted bread to make a delicious vegan Italian-style sub.
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly
The classic PB&J sandwich can easily be made even more nutritious by using almond or cashew butter instead of peanut butter. And to make it hypoallergenic, just use sunflower seed butter. You can enhance your PB&J even more by adding banana slices, chia seeds, or agave nectar (instead of honey)—or by making your own easy vegan marshmallow fluff to spread on it!
3. Tofu Egg Salad Sandwich
For a cruelty-free (and not stinky) take on the egg salad sandwich, try swapping out the eggs with tofu and using vegan mayo. Try the easy recipe below.
1 pkg. firm tofu, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup vegan mayo
1/4 cup relish
2–3 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. turmeric
Salt and pepper, to taste
- Mash the tofu in a bowl.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients.
- For best results, chill in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving on some toasted bread along with lettuce, tomato, and onion slices, if desired.
4. Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich
For a fish- and nose-friendly take on the tuna sandwich, use chickpeas instead and prevent fish from being violently abducted from their aquatic homes. No one would know they were eating vegan tuna unless someone told them! Try this recipe:
1 10-oz. can garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
Salt, to taste
1/2 cup vegan mayo
- Mash the garbanzo beans in a bowl.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients then spread onto bread and top with lettuce and tomato, if desired.
5. Vegan BLTA
Pigs are smart, playful, and full of love, and that’s why we’d never eat them on a sandwich. Vegan bacon along with lettuce, tomato, and the always-welcome addition of avocado make this vegan BLTA one of our favorites! Brands such as Tofurky, Sweet Earth, Lightlife, and Upton Naturals make delicious vegan bacon that you can find in most grocery stores, or you can make your own using tempeh.
We guarantee that your little ones will be dreaming about the next vegan BLTA before they’re even finished eating this one.
6. Vegan Cheese Sandwich or Grilled Cheese
With so many vegan cheese and bread options available these days, practically no two vegan cheese sandwiches are alike. For an option that your kids can take to school, use untoasted bread, some vegan mayo, and their favorite vegan cheese slices. Try adding a slice of tomato, a little lettuce, or avocado for some added health benefits.
If your children are learning virtually, you have the option of making them a grilled “cheese” at home! Use some vegan butter (like Miyoko’s or Earth Balance) and vegan cheese, and make it exactly as you would any other grilled cheese sandwich. (When it comes to grilled cheese, low and slow wins the race, so don’t turn the heat to high.)
7. Hummus and Veggie Sandwich
Bread, hummus, and your kids’ favorite veggies are all you need to make this delightfully delicious, refreshing, healthy, easy sandwich.
For the veggies, we suggest any combination of lettuce, tomato, shredded carrot, red bell pepper, red onion, avocado, cucumber, and alfalfa sprouts.
8. Club Sandwich
Club sandwiches typically have three pieces of bread instead of two and are cut into four pieces instead of halves. To make them vegan, just use vegan turkey, ham, or chicken plus vegan bacon and vegan mayo. And don’t forget to add lettuce and tomato to give it a fresh taste. To make a “California club,” add avocado—you won’t regret it! ?
9. Vegan Tea Sandwich
Whether your children are having a fabulous pretend tea party or just eating some lunch at the kitchen table, these cream cheese finger sandwiches are disproportionately delicious to how quick they are to make. Simply smear the bread with vegan cream cheese made by Daiya, Kite Hill, Follow Your Heart, or Spero. Layer on some thin slices of tomato and cucumber for a savory option, or go with strawberry slices for a sweet treat. These are highly versatile and can be made using hummus, Tofurky deli slices, olives, vegan pesto, etc., so you can customize them according to your kids’ preferences. Cut off the crusts, raise your pinkies, and enjoy!
10. Sloppy Joes
It’s hard not to love this hearty sandwich. Here’s what you need:
Olive oil, for frying
16 oz. vegan beef crumbles or 1 cup cooked lentils
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 onion, very finely chopped
2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. mustard
1/4 tsp. chili powder
Salt, to taste
2 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1 cup finely chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- Warm the olive oil over medium heat and fry the vegan beef crumbles until browned.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes then remove from the heat and allow it to cool.
If your kids are eating this at home, serve it on a toasted bun, and if they’re taking it to school, pack the “meat” in a container so that it doesn’t make the bread soggy. They’ll love assembling their own sandwich at school. (Don’t forget to pack them a spoon.)
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How cool is it that sandwiches can be filled with yummy “meats,” “cheeses,” and spreads without hurting cows, pigs, chickens, or turkeys? For more sandwich inspiration, check out our favorite vegan deli slices!
Under 13? Ask your parents bee-fore you continue!