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This school lunch is a cinch to make, and I’ll show you how to pack the turkey and cheese sushi on a stick into a lunchbox, so they stay fresh and intact.
Turkey & Cheese Sushi
Something about cutting ordinary foods into bite-size pieces and skewering them onto a stick makes everything taste better. In this case, it’s a turkey and cheese sandwich- a combo kids already love!
While you can pack this sushi without the stick, I like using an appetizer pick or plastic coffee stirrer to hold everything in place.
Of course, if neither option is available, you can place the rolls into a small container so they’re close together and don’t fall apart.
What is in Turkey & Cheese Sushi
Sandwich sushi can be made with any of your favorite fillings, but for this particular recipe, you’ll need:
- Mayo: optional, but it keeps the bread moist.
- Bread: regular white or whole wheat sliced bread is perfect.
- Turkey: the usual deli turkey or ham works great. You can use up any extra turkey slices for a cracker stacker bento box for later in the week.
- Sliced cheese: could be Cheddar, Provolone, Gouda- whatever is in the fridge.
- More snacks: think crackers, veggies, fruit- the usual lunch sides.
Making school lunches delicious and easy to assemble is my game, and I’ve created a TON of ideas, which you can find here:
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
How to Pack Turkey & Cheese Sushi on a Stick for Lunch
Let me show you how to assemble this easy idea and pack it for lunch.
- Remove the crust
Use a sharp knife to remove the bread crust and spread the mayo onto both slices. Layer 1 slice of turkey and cheese onto each piece of bread. - Roll and slice
Starting at one end, roll the bread into a small roll and slice it into 3 to 4 rounds. - Skewer
Thread 3 to 4 rolls onto an appetizer pick or large pick. Grab a lunch container and place the skewers in their own compartment. - Keep it fresh
To keep the bread and crackers dry, they must be packed separately from wet ingredients like veggies and fruit. - Send it!
Close the container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.
School Lunch Packing Tips
Keep this fun lunch fresh until lunchtime by following these simple packing tips:
Use a firm container
A firm compartmentalized container is perfect for packing this turkey and cheese sushi on a stick without getting squished in the lunch bag and assembling a variety of wet and dry ingredients under one lid. You can check out my most-used and adored options here.
Keep it chilled
To keep this lunch cool until it’s time to eat, add an ice pack to the lunch bag. This is especially important if lunch bags will be kept outside for some of the day.
Make it nutritious
Add a side of veggies and fruit to balance out this meal. In this lunch, I included cucumber slices, grape tomatoes, and crackers. Remember to pack them inside separate lunchbox compartments to prevent the sushi bread and crackers from getting soggy.
More Crustless Sandwich Ideas
If you’re packing sandwiches for a kid who doesn’t love crusts, I’ve got some more ideas you can try out next like my kid-fave dinosaur sandwiches, these epic homemade uncrustables and even PB&J roll-ups!
Turkey & Cheese Sushi on a Stick
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon mayonnaise or hummus
- 2 slices white or wheat sandwich bread
- 2 slices deli turkey or ham
- 1 slice of cheese, halved
- ½ cup cucumber, sliced
- ¼ cup grape tomatoes
- 1- ounce crackers
Instructions
- Spread the mayonnaise onto both slices of bread. Top each slice with 1 piece of deli turkey and cheese. Starting at one end, roll up the ingredients into 1 roll.
- Slice each roll into 3-4 rounds and skewers the pieces onto an appetizer pick.
- Add the skewers into a compartmentalized lunch container, and pack the veggies and crackers into separate compartments.
- Close the lunch container and place it in the lunch bag with an ice pack.
Sonia says
IsTheMayo Okay To Use For A Lunch? Love The Idea Just Concern About The Mayo.
MOMables says
Mayo is completely fine to use in a lunch unless you make it homemade. In that case, it’s not shelf stable.
Lisa says
My 5 year old is a T1 as well, this is a great idea. But where the heck do you find bread that is only 5 carbs a slice? We buy the sandwich thins a lot from Costco, but even those are 7.5 a slice (if you subtract the fiber, which we do). I’d love 5 carb bread though (assuming it tastes ok)!! Thanks.
Brooke Wheeler says
Hi Lisa,
Ever since my son was diagnosed my go-to bread has been Sara Lee Delightful 100% Whole Wheat with Honey. One slice of that is 7 carbs. For this recipe, you remove the crust, therefore I calculate it as 5 carbs a slice. I think it tastes great! It is actually the bread my entire family of four eats and no one has ever had any complaints :).
Dana says
Thank you thank you thank you!! My son is type 1 and this is just the kinds of things I need to help battle his picky-ness. I LOVE that you have included the carb count too. I too went from making my meals (healthy options) to the pre-packaged, easy to carb count foods. Now that diabetes is no longer as overwhelming (a year and a half later) I am trying to find new options that are healthier for my son and my family. Although he does not go to school (he is almost 3) we still need good lunch options. This is great! I will have to see if he will eat it.
Laura says
We are so glad Dana! We have more recipes with carb counts on the way!
Lorene says
Hi there, my kids aren’t big fans of sandwiches, either. This is both a good thing and a bad thing…mostly bad in terms of requiring more thought and effort for packing lunches. I’m curious…do you mind sharing what your “go-to low carbohydrate bread” is? Thanks!
Brooke Wheeler says
Hi Lorene,
My go-to bread is Sara Lee Delightful 100% Whole Wheat with Honey. There of course are other low-carbohydrate breads, this is just the kind that my son likes best.