The Open Face Sandwich
Would you sacrifice one slice of bread every day for a beach or bikini body?
Let’s ease into the summer by simply cutting back a bit. We can slim down the easy way, one slice at a time. Skipping the potato chips, drinking sugar-free drinks, and taking an afternoon stroll will boost our results.
The open-face sandwich is a cross between a sandwich and a salad because it has one slice of bread but all the fillings for a full sandwich.
This is one of my mom’s weight loss secrets: cutting one slice of bread every day for a week is about half a loaf of bread savings. You can pile on veggies and meats, but cheese can pack on the pounds, so be aware.
The bread is the base for this lunch, so if you have a basic American white or wheat bread, toasting it helps it stand up to the weight of your toppings. Kids love King’s Hawaiian, cinnamon raisin, banana bread, burger buns, or pretzel bread. I prefer sturdy bread like sourdough, multigrain, rye, pumpernickel, or even sliced French bread. I toast these, too.
The Silly Face Sandwich
Get the kids involved in making lunch. The old saying a picture is worth a thousand words. My graphic today should help inspire your young ones. Let the kids create sandwiches for the family, and it makes them feel grown up; just give them your bread and toppings, and the sandwich artists will provide the giggles and lunch.
Nut butters- peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, Nutella, and any other nut flavors
Spreads- honey, jams, jellies, apple butter, soft cheeses, yogurt or marshmallow fluff
Toppings- fruits, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, coconut flakes, pineapple and even a few potato chips.
This is an easy project to keep the little ones busy, fed, and happy for a few hours. Use paper plates, and clean-up is minimal.
LET’S VEG Sandwich
One of the most overlooked tasty items is veggies in jars. Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, beets, asparagus, onions, pickles, or Italian garden mix or ‘Giardiniera’ can all be purchased for a few dollars and make a great sandwich start. These mixes often have vinegar, oil, and spices, so it is a shortcut to flavor.
Check your garden and fridge for tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and any other plant that you like to graze on.
Start with a slice of thick, toasted bread
Add your jarred veggies
Top with fresh onions and veggies
Stuff your face
There is no rule with sandwiches, so if you want to add lunch meat, shrimp, bacon, chicken, tofu, or tempeh, go ahead and make your sandwich.
Tiny Fish in Tins Open-Face Sandwich
Yup. I am a part-time seagull. I love sardines packed in Buffalo sauce, tomato sauce, oil, water, mustard, and any other yummy flavors. I add veggies like tomatoes, onions, chives, or peppers; other times, it is me and the sardines. Do not judge me. The fish is the dish. For those who need calcium, those crunchy bones mend yours.
Toast a whole-grain bread
Fork out the fish
Let the juice drip on the bread
Add veggies or not
Munch that lunch
Wipe your chin
Wait 15 minutes
Brush your fishy teeth
One of the biggest challenges I face as I grow older is that I still love to eat, but the pounds seem to stick to my belly. I know I have a few options: I need to move more or cut out a few calories throughout the day.
I hope to see you on the trails.
Be a creative eater. Su*
