Is there any lunchbox food more perfect than a sandwich? It’s handheld, endlessly adaptable, and totally kid-friendly. That being said, you also need to avoid a few pitfalls, like overstuffing, having soggy bread, and skimping on flavor. But achieving sandwich nirvana is not difficult; you just need to keep a few tips in mind when creating this lunchtime staple. We tapped head baker and expert sandwich maker Angela Reid of Leland Eating and Drinking House in Brooklyn to share her tips for building sandwiches that are easy to make and even easier to get your kids to eat. And don’t forget, if your creation is still missing that certain something, make sure to add a dollop of French’s Classic Yellow Mustard. It’s made with stone-ground, No. 1 grade mustard seeds for a tangy taste the family will adore. Read on for seven more tips to make your back-to-school sammies shine.
1. Prep the components so they're ready to build in the morning
Nothing makes a school morning feel more frazzled than having to frantically hunt down ingredients for the kids’ lunchboxes. Make life easier for everyone by spending just a few minutes prepping the night before. Wash your lettuce and leave it to dry in the fridge between paper towels; slice your tomatoes and keep them in a paper towel-lined container overnight. If all you have to do in the morning is stack a sandwich, it’ll take literal seconds to complete.
2. Don’t forget to toast your bread
One way to keep your sandwich sturdy is to make sure your biggest building block (i.e. your bread) is secure. “Whenever possible, toast your bread!” Reid says. “A piece of toasted bread will help your sandwich stay together better and the toasty goodness will add more flavor to your sandwich.” Plus, the nuttiness of toasted bread pairs beautifully with the tanginess of French’s mustard.
3. Be strategic about how to build your sandwich
Avoid soaking your bread with deli meat and other wetter components by strategizing your build. “I always place lettuce and vegetables at the bottom of the sandwich,” says Reid. “It helps stabilize your creation as you build it, and it prevents your bread from getting soggy.”
4. Cheese is a condiment’s best friend
If you’re not a fan of lettuce in your sandwich, don’t sweat it! There are still plenty of ways to keep your bread dry, like using cheese as your first layer. “Cheese is less porous than bread, so it holds mustard much better,” Reid says. You can even try out different cheese and mustard combos to switch it up with every sandwich. We love sharp cheddar with a smear of French’s mustard, but the possibilities are endless!
5. Add lemon to your avocado to prevent it from browning
While we love the smooth texture avocado lends to a sandwich, we all know how unappetizing a smooshy brown slice can look. “Adding lemon to avocado helps to slow down oxidation, which is what makes it turn brown,” Reid says. Plus, a spritz of citrus adds a lovely burst of complex, acidic flavor to your lunch.
6. Get the kids involved via a family production line
Sandwiches are one of the easiest foods for kids to learn how to make: there’s no cooking or heat required, so even the littlest chefs can lend a hand and gain a feeling of accomplishment. Setting up a station is easy: Arrange plates with breads, veggies, cheese, meats, and spreads like French’s mustard. Each family member can be responsible for one (or a few!) stations before passing the sandwich on to the next person in line. Before you know it, all the lunches are ready to go.
7. Ditch the plastic wrap for something more eco-friendly
We should all be trying to lower our carbon footprint, even when it comes to wrapping our sandwiches for lunch. “There are so many options for sustainable sandwich bags and wraps: biodegradable options, wax wraps, reusable containers,” says Reid. “Beeswax wraps are going to be the most similar seal to plastic wrap.” Just make sure to tell your kids not to toss it after lunch!
Juliet Izon is a New York-based freelance writer who focuses on travel, food, interior design, and entertainment.
