Sandwiches are the mainstay of lunchtime, but when you live in an apartment here at Hickory Villa and don’t have a lot of refrigerator space, storing them can be a challenge. You can make sandwiches from so many more ingredients than just lunch meat, however. This is especially helpful if you need to maintain your blood sugar levels between meals or just need a fast go-to when you don’t want to go to the dining room.
This month, which happens to be National Sandwich Month, you can snack on some old standbys while also trying a few new combinations when you’re looking for a healthy meal. One may just become your new favorite.
1. Variations on PB&J
You’ve probably eaten a ton of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches throughout your lifetime and made even more for your children and grandkids. While you can customize this sandwich by changing up your peanut butter between smooth and crunchy and choosing between a ton of different jelly flavors, you can go even one step further with alternatives to keep this idea fresh over time. Consider:
2. Yummy Banana Sandwiches
Putting fruit on bread and calling it a sandwich may seem a bit off course to you, but the combination of banana and white bread is amazingly tasty. For even healthier options, consider using whole grain bread or even a gluten-free variety. Up north, folks like to pair the thin slices of banana with butter or margarine. Down south, it’s more popular to use mayo. And throughout the land, people also love adding peanut butter to the banana to make a sandwich that will sneak its way into your rotation for its ease of making and delicious taste.
3. Classic Tomato Sandwiches
If you’re of a certain age, you may remember these sandwiches from your youth, when meat was in short supply. At this time in your life, it can be a healthy alternative to a meaty sandwich, easy to make and even easier to accessorize. If you’re a fan of mayo but looking for a change, consider using a bit of low-fat ranch dressing on this sandwich instead. Another alternative to consider is swapping your mayo for mustard — or using both for double the taste. If you have other veggies on hand, slice them thin like your tomatoes and add on top. Onions, bell peppers and cucumbers work especially well in combination with tomato.
4. Tasty Cucumber Sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches aren’t just the lore of tea time in high society — they’re also a great option to add to your everyday sandwich rotation — and they're super easy to make. Simply peel a cucumber (if you want less seeds and moisture plus a sweeter taste, use an English cucumber) and slice thin. Then, pair with some low-fat cream cheese and your favorite bread, cut in quarters, hold out your pinkie and enjoy this fun, fresh lunch.
5. An Alternative to the BLT
You can enjoy a delicious BLT without having to store a pound of bacon in your fridge or wondering about how you’re going to fry it up. Instead, buy a small bag of bacon pieces. This bag won't take up much room in your fridge and will also be a great topping to a variety of meals. Be sure you’re buying actual bacon pieces and not bacon bits. The first tastes better and is far easier to chew plus has less preservatives. Now, when it’s time to make your BLT, simply lay out your bread, add on tomato and lettuce slices, the mayo or mustard you prefer and sprinkle on some delicious bacon pieces that bring it all together.
