Vegetable Pinwheel Sandwiches for Kids

 Colourful pinwheel sandwiches filled with kid-friendly vegetables for lunch boxes. Includes alternative filling ideas.

VEGETABLE PINWHEEL SANDWICHES FOR KIDS

Vegetable pinwheel sandwiches are a real hit with kids and you can fill them with so many different fillings.

These rainbow pinwheels are filled with the type of crunchy veg children will usually eat, but if your child has a particular dislike, you can change them up.

They are made in minutes and are cut into little bite-sized swirls that are the perfect size for kids to snack on at lunchtime.

Perfect for back-to-school meal planning.

For more inspiration check out 101 Vegan Sandwiches - Back to School Kids Lunch boxes.

SANDWICHES FOR FUSSY EATERS

These are the perfect sandwiches for picky eaters as the filling is either cut into very small pieces or grated.

Start off with the vegetables they do like the first time you make them, but the next time sneak in an extra vegetable, either grated or in a tiny dice.

Just add a teeny amount, then start adding a little more and a little more as they get used to it.

The good thing is they can see the filling without unfolding the wrap to check. Yep, been there, seen that.

also check out  Kid- Friendly School Lunch Plan for Vegan Kids

WHICH VEGETABLES ARE CHILD-FRIENDLY?

Some children are great and will tuck into all vegetables happily, but if you ask me these children are in the minority.

My tip is to say to your child as long as they try something you will be happy and don't push it.

Offer them all sorts of vegetables to try both raw and cooked and you might be surprised what they like.

Sometimes it's a texture thing too and children often prefer raw crunchy vegetables.

I TESTED THIS OUT WITH MY FUSSY EATER

I did this and found my son likes a side salad of carrot sticks, red pepper sticks, sweetcorn, slices of raw red onion, cucumber and olives. The olives were a surprise.

For cooked veg, he likes sweet potato, butternut squash, asparagus, carrot, peas and samphire, yes samphire.  

He will also happily eat spinach in dishes like dal, soup, pasta sauce and puff pastry tarts, as long as I don't add too much.

See, it's worth trying different types of veg. Turn it into a taste test and let them take the lead.

Strangely, my son won't eat broccoli or cauliflower so I add these to soups and sauces where he won't notice them.

It's all about balance. give them veg they do like and sneak extras in to make sure they get what they need.

GRATED VEG

Grated or shredded vegetables are another way to introduce veg into sandwiches.

Veg can often taste so different raw, it's a good way for kids to try them.

You can either add it to a sandwich or wrap in a thin layer or mix it in with mayo, grated cheese or cream cheese.

Some can be grated with a box grater or shredded finely with a knife.

Here are a few vegetables that are great (see what I did there?) grated or shredded:

1. Asparagus - grated  
2. Beetroot - grated
3. Brussels sprouts - shredded
4. Cabbage - shredded
5. Carrots - grated
6. Cucumber - grated (and dried on kitchen paper)
7. Kale - finely shredded
8. Parsnips - grated

also check out 45 Back-to-School Vegan Lunches for Kids

WHICH TYPE OF BREAD DO YOU USE FOR PINWHEELS?

Pinwheels are usually made with flour tortillas. Either large or mini flour tortillas.

You can also use corn tortilla or flavoured colour tortillas, you may have seen the red beetroot tortillas or the green spinach ones.

Alternatively,  can also use bread to make pinwheels.

also try Vegan Pizza Pinwheel Pastries

BREAD PINWHEEL SANDWICHES

Any soft bread would do, but you need to cut off the crusts and if it's thick, give it a roll with a glass or rolling pin to thin it out a little.

If you're using bread make sure you have something a bit sticky as a spread to hold it in a pinwheel shape as bread is going to try to unroll.

Spreading with a generous layer of vegan butter, cream cheese, mayo or a sweet spread like peanut butter or chocolate spread with act as a glue and help hold it together.

That reminds me of the fabulous picture book Vegetable Glue by Susan Chandler. If you have a child from baby up to 10, do buy a copy, it's brilliant. A rhyming book all about why it's important to eat veg.

Also try the British classic Vegan Cheese & Onion Sandwiches  or Lentil Burrito Lunch Wraps

ROLLING AND CUTTING PINWHEELS

You may have seen the graphic in other wrap posts showing you how to fold a wrap.

For pinwheels you need a different approach.

When folding a wrap you load your topping on the upper half of a tortilla, which a space around the edge, before tucking in the sides and folding.

With pinwheels you want to add an even layer of filling all over the tortilla, before rolling firmly and cutting into spiral slices.

If you scroll down you will see in my step-by-step photos to give you an idea.

PINWHEEL SANDWICH FILLINGS

Here are some ideas for pinwheel sandwich fillings. 

Tweak them to suit you or your children. I use vegan options, but you can tweak these to suit what you have in the fridge or store cupboard.

SAVOURY PINWHEEL FILLINGS

1. Cream cheese and grated vegetables
2. Cream cheese and finely diced vegetables
3. Mashed avocado, salsa, corn and kidney beans
4. Mushroom pate and grated vegetables
5. Bean pate, cream cheese and kidney beans
6. Hummus, chickpeas, grated vegetables
7. Hummus and grated carrot
8. Cheese savoury and salad leaves
9. Mayo, grated cheese, grated beetroot
10. Mayo, grated cheese and sweetcorn
11. Mayo, salad leaves, grated cheese, coleslaw
12. Tomato puree, thinly sliced cooked sausages and grated cheddar
13. Mayo, salad leaves sage and onion deli slices, grated carrot and mustard
14. Mustard, thinly sliced cooked sausages and grated carrot
15. Mashed baked beans mixed with grated cheddar

SWEET PINWHEEL FILLINGS

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HOW TO MAKE VEGETABLE PINWHEEL SANDWICHES

STEP 1

Spread the tortilla with a generous layer of cream cheese.

 

Sprinkle with some dried oregano (or dried parsley or chives).

 

Top with grated carrot & some finely diced red pepper.

 

 

STEP 2

 

Now add sweetcorn.

 

I added small dollops of pesto and a few basil leaves to add flavour, but you can skip these.

 

You could add little dollops of American mustard or tomato puree to add a little extra flavour boost instead of pesto or leave it out.

 

Roll firmly, from one side to the other (no tucking in), then cut in slices. I cut them about 2-5 cm (1 inch).

 

Enjoy!

📖 Recipe

Vegetable Pinwheel Sandwiches for Kids

Jacqueline Meldrum

Colourful pinwheel sandwiches filled with kid-friendly vegetables for lunch boxes.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin It Download Save Saved!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Easy Vegan Sandwiches & Wraps

Cuisine American

Servings 1

Calories 494 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 large flour tortilla
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoon vegan cream cheese
• ▢ pinch dried oregano
• ▢ 1 small carrot grated
• ▢ ¼ red pepper finely diced
• ▢ 2 tablespoon sweetcorn I used tinned, but you can lightly cook frozen or fresh sweetcorn
• ▢ 1 - 2 teaspoon vegan pesto
• ▢ 4 basil leaves optional

Instructions

 

Cook Mode Keep screen on

• Spread the cream cheese right to the edges.
• Sprinkle over the oregano.
• Sprinkle the sweetcorn, grated carrot and diced peppers evenly across the wrap.
• Dot little dollops of pesto across the wrap.
• Scatter over a few leaves of basil.
• Roll the tortilla firmly into a tube, then slice into 2 ½ cm 1 inch slices.
• Enjoy!

Notes

• The herbs are optional. With some children, you will get away with the dried herbs but not the fresh herbs.
• For adults why not add chilli flakes?
• You can fill with a thicker layer or filling, but I find a thinner layer is better for children.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 494kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 386mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g

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