Low Fat Sandwiches for Kids: Healthy Sandwiches for Kids with a Low Fat Focus

Preparing low fat sandwiches for kids isn't as difficult to do as it may seem. When parents decide to cut back on calories for their kids, they'll sometimes count sandwiches out completely, but that isn't as necessary as you might think. It may be true that generally speaking, sandwiches are often weighed down with things like fatty burgers, fatty cheese, then topped off with tasty fattening sauces. However, you can slim down sandwiches for the kids a few different ways. I've started to do this not only for them, but for myself as well.

Mayo Substitutes

Instead of spreading mayonnaise with a full fat content on your child's sandwich, you can substitute things like mustard, or fat free salad dressings like french or some of the other fat free dressings. These are especially good when you have an older tween or teen that isn't afraid to venture into some flavors other than mayonnaise on a sandwich, or perhaps a child that isn't too picky about their food.

Butter and Dairy Substitutes

I have a good mom friend who began to use reduced fat margarine or cooking oil spray on the bread she uses for grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also use non dairy types of cheese instead of dairy cheese. Non dairy cheeses made from tapioca, soy or almond make good grilled cheese sandwiches my kids enjoy. They also have much less caloric content than dairy cheese, not to mention great nutrition levels.You can also see how your kids respond to using low fat cream cheese rather than full fat cream cheese. If your kids are like mine, chances are they won't really know the difference and they'll be just as willing to gobble it up with a light type of cream cheese.

High Fat Deli Meat

Instead of using deli meat drenched in fat, try tuna canned in water rather than oil. Another nice substitute for deli meat is crab meat. You can make a great crab salad either from the imitation crab meat, like the type made from a white fish called Pollock, or if you'd like to try the real deal, go for it with regular crab meat. Just create your crab salad with a low fat mayo, or perhaps a light olive oil with salt and pepper to taste. Another way to substitute deli meat is beans. Pinto or garbanzo beans spread great and have lots of spice options which go well with sandwiches. 

Low Fat Breads

Keep in mind that most breads with exception of biscuits or croissants aren't too off the charts when it comes to fat content. Become a label reader with regard to the breads you purchase to keep the fat calories at a minimum . Don't forget to keep whole grains in mind for more nutrition as well.

Source: Personal experience