Pin It A playful and creative lunch platter featuring assorted sandwiches arranged to look like train cars running along edible tracks—perfect for delighting kids and encouraging healthy eating.
This platter always brings smiles and makes lunchtime exciting for my children.
Ingredients
- Bread & Sandwich Fillings: 8 slices whole wheat or white sandwich bread, 4 tbsp cream cheese, 4 tbsp peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for nut-free), 4 tbsp strawberry jam, 4 slices cheddar cheese, 4 slices turkey or ham (optional)
- Edible Train Tracks & Decorations: 2 large celery stalks (for tracks), 1 cup pretzel sticks (for cross-ties), 16 round cucumber slices (for wheels), 8 cherry tomatoes (halved, for wheels), 1 red bell pepper (for train engine details), 1 yellow bell pepper (for train windows), 1 cup baby carrots
Instructions
- Prepare the Sandwiches:
- Use cookie cutters or a knife to cut bread slices into rectangles (train cars) and one larger shape for the engine. Make assorted sandwiches: spread cream cheese and cucumber, peanut butter and jam, cheddar with turkey or ham, or any desired fillings. Assemble and gently press sandwiches together.
- Arrange the Tracks:
- Place celery stalks parallel on a large platter or board to form rails. Lay pretzel sticks across the celery at intervals to create cross-ties.
- Build the Train:
- Place sandwich rectangles on top of the tracks as train cars. Use cucumber rounds and cherry tomato halves as wheels, attaching with a dab of cream cheese if needed. Decorate the engine using bell pepper slices for details and windows.
- Add Extras:
- Place baby carrots, extra cucumber rounds, and additional veggies around the board for snacking and color.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately, letting kids drive their train cars along the tracks before eating.
Pin It This recipe creates memorable family moments as the kids have fun assembling and eating their edible trains.
Required Tools
Large serving platter or board, sharp knife or cookie cutters, spreading knife, small bowls (optional for dips)
Allergen Information
Contains gluten (bread), dairy (cream cheese, cheese), and possible nuts (peanut butter). Use nut-free spreads and gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives as needed. Always double-check ingredient labels for allergens.
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories ~310, Total Fat 10 g, Carbohydrates 42 g, Protein 10 g
Pin It This recipe combines creativity and nutrition in a fun way that children love and parents appreciate.
Recipe FAQs
- → How can I make the sandwich board nut-free?
Replace peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or other nut-free spreads to ensure it's safe for those with nut allergies.
- → What breads work best for building the train sandwiches?
Whole wheat or white sandwich bread work well and hold their shape nicely when cut into rectangles or engine shapes.
- → How are the train wheels attached to the sandwiches?
Use a small dab of cream cheese to secure cucumber slices and cherry tomato halves as wheels on the sandwich shapes.
- → Can this platter accommodate vegetarian diets?
Yes, simply omit deli meats and use cheese, spreads, or veggie fillings to keep it vegetarian-friendly.
- → What are alternative decorations for the train engine details?
Red and yellow bell pepper slices provide bright details, but other colorful veggies like carrot sticks or olives can be used creatively.