April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month. In honor of this yummy, kid friendly sandwich I have Christine Steendahl's article to share. Enjoy!
Grilled cheese sandwiches are the simplest meal to make. Children can even learn to make it themselves. The ones I used to make contained regular cheese and white bread with butter to cook it. Here are a few ways to make that grilled cheese sandwich healthier for your kids.
First of all you need to reduce the fat in the cheese. Full fat cheeses are a thing of the past. A slice of fat free cheese melts just the same with fewer calories and fat. If American cheese is too ordinary, try a slice of Swiss or provolone cheese. Monterey Jack is great on a sandwich, also. One slice of cheese is plenty, but if you are using the fat free kind, you could usually get by with two slices for a creamier sandwich.
What about the bread? The bread is crucial. White bread contains too many sugars that are not healthy for you. Try whole wheat or seven grain bread. Sourdough bread would make a good substitution. What you want is bread with fewer calories and carbohydrates per serving.
What about some meat? When they added bologna to a grilled cheese sandwich when I was a kid, they called it a “flying saucer”. Adding a slice of meat makes the sandwich more of a complete meal. Depending on what their favorite is, you can add roast beef, sliced ham, sliced turkey, bacon, sausage, or sliced chicken breast.
What about some flavor? Add flavor to their grilled cheese sandwich with a few choice condiments. Adding mustard gives the sandwich a tangy taste. For an even better taste add brown or Dijon mustard. Go Mexican with a bit of salsa added to the sandwich. The salsa will make the grilled cheese sandwich spicy. Roast beef goes well with a dollop of barbeque sauce added for good measure. If your child is into the simpler tastes, add a bit of fat-free or reduced fat mayonnaise or ketchup to the sandwich. Adding some dressing such as Peppercorn Ranch is another great option for adding variety.
Add some crunch to your sandwich. Slice up an apple and place it on top of the cheese. People eat a slice of cheese with apple pie and many cheese trays are served with apples, so why not on a grilled cheese sandwich? Use a Granny Smith apple maximum crunch. They will hold their shape better than a red apple.
Our grilled cheese sandwich is really coming together. We have added meat, changed the cheese, changed the bread, and added sauces for an extra kick. What’s left to do? Maybe we can incorporate some vegetables. Pickles work well on a cheese sandwich with bologna. A juicy slice of tomato would add color and flavor to any meat and cheese combination. Get a slice of green with a leaf of romaine lettuce or some spinach.
Ditch the butter. I used to spread a thick layer of butter on both sides of the bread before I put the sandwich in the pan. Here are a few alternatives to that. Use spray butter or non-stick cooking spray in the pan. Your kids will still have the butter flavor without all the butter calories. Another choice would be to brown the sandwich in the oven. Using a cookie sheet, spray both sides of the bread with butter spray. Bake the cheese sandwiches in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for about six minutes per side. Grilled cheese sandwiches are getting a new look. By adding meat, seasoning, and veggies, your sandwiches are now a meal unto themselves. Get your family involved in the process. Let them create their own sandwiches.
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