It can be a challenge to provide nutritionally sound party food for kids while still incorporating the element of play. Let's face it, children like to play with their food. With this recipe, that's encouraged!
These open-faced bagel sandwiches combine the best of both worlds. Hearty bagels are topped with tuna or egg salad, and then decorated with cut up vegetables. One way to make sure that the food actually goes from plate to tummy is to get the children as involved as possible in the entire process.
While shopping for the toppings, let the kids pick out their favourite vegetables. Try a few new ones too, based on their appearance. Frilly lettuce leaves, brightly coloured peppers, tiny sprouts, and shiny grape tomatoes are all perfect for making faces out of. Additions like nuts, seeds, olives, and sliced pickles also work well.
Any type of bagel will work for these sandwiches. Plain bagels might appeal to younger kids, while more refined palates will enjoy poppy seed, sesame seed, or whole wheat bagels. Pumpernickel bagels are also a great, healthy choice.
Cut the veggies and other toppings in the shapes of facial features like eyes, noses, mouths, tongues, ears, etc. Fun additions include accessories like eyeglasses, hats, and jewelry. Hair can be made from thin strips of veggies, or curly sprouts. "Hair" should be available in a variety of different lengths for the top of the heads, as well as beards or mustaches.
For added fun, both the egg salad and tuna salad can be coloured with a few drops of liquid food colouring if desired. Mash the colour in well while combining the ingredients for the salads.
Serve sandwiches with the leftover veggies and iced tea or lemonade for a fun, yummy, guilt-free lunch perfect for any kid's party!
Bagel Face Sandwiches
- 6 fresh bagels, any type
- egg salad (recipe is here - omit the bread and food colouring)
- tuna salad (recipe below)
- assorted fresh veggies and other toppings, cut into shapes of facial features, hair, and accessories
Slice bagels in half and top each half with egg or tuna salad. Put bowls of veggies out on the table along with plated bagel halves, and let the kids design their own masterpieces!
Makes 12 bagel faces.
Tuna Salad
- 2 cans tuna packed in water
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons prepared relish
- salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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