Summertime is happy chaos for kids but can be challenging for parents trying to balance pool days, camp schedules and road trips with nutritious family meals. Summer sandwiches provide protein-packed, easy-to-assemble options that are both nutritious and delicious — and parents agree they're an easy win.
In fact, bread-based meals offer easy solutions for picky eaters, anchor kids' favorite routines, and create small moments of care — from packed lunches to shared family meals. In this way, bread bridges nutrition and emotional reassurance, making it a quiet but powerful ally in everyday parenting.
Pepperoni grilled cheese sammie checks all the boxes
According to research from Nature's Own, 80% of parents surveyed agree that choosing bread with simple ingredients helps them feel like they're winning at feeding their kids, even when other aspects of parenting feel challenging. And 92% agree that bread-based meals like grilled cheese are an easy solution for picky eaters.
Pepperoni grilled cheese is a kid-friendly twist on a classic that's sure to please the pickiest palates. Just preheat a skillet over medium and generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Then place the bread buttered-side down on the skillet, add one slice of your favorite mozzarella cheese and nine pepperoni slices. Butter a second piece of bread and place it buttered-side up on top of the sandwich. Grill until golden brown. Flip over and continue grilling until the cheese is melted. Serve with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. It's gooey goodness for lunch, after-swim snacks or picnic suppers on the patio.
Elevate your toast game for sleepovers and family breakfasts
Want an easy way to serve up a healthy breakfast for a crowd? How about a toast station with fresh fruit, nut butter, avocado and eggs for a balanced meal in minutes? Bread makes meal prep quick and accessible. It's a nutrition-packed multitasker that provides the foundation for a healthy breakfast. Customizing options with spreadable, sprinklable toppers like honey, ricotta cheese and sliced almonds, makes the meal fun and customizable because kids can build their own plates. It's a great way to carb load for a day of summer adventures!
Tickle taste buds and funny bones with 'caterpillar' sandwiches
Want to make food tasty and fun for picnics and summer parties? Serve up caterpillar sandwiches and watch the spontaneous smiles on your children's faces. Cut a cherry tomato in half. Cut a couple of green onion circles for the eyes. Using a small cookie cutter about the diameter of a cucumber or a Roma tomato, punch out round pieces of bread, two rounds per sandwich. Then layer circles of ham, American cheese and pieces of lettuce in between. Arrange the sandwiches on their sides, alternating a slice of cucumber and a slice of tomato between each one. Place half a cherry tomato on both ends. Using a small amount of mayonnaise or cream cheese, glue the green onion rounds to the cherry tomato for the eyes.
Beyond convenience, bread carries emotional weight for parents. Choosing bread with simple, recognizable ingredients can help them feel confident and capable in feeding their families, even when school's out and structured meal planning is on hiatus. Bread's ability to work across meals is essential, with 91% of parents surveyed saying it's extremely or moderately important that bread can be used for multiple purposes like sandwiches, toast and snacks. Nature's Own's bread contains up to 38% fewer ingredients than before and is now Non-GMO Project Verified, so what are you waiting for? Let summer sandwich season begin!
