Road Trip Ready Lunch

Featured in: Family-Friendly Everyday Meals

This lunch features sandwiches cut into fun car shapes using whole wheat bread, cream cheese or hummus, cheddar, and deli slices. Fresh cucumber wheels, grape tomatoes, and baby carrots add colorful decoration. Accompanied by grapes and pretzel sticks for balanced snacking, it’s perfect for travel or packed lunches. Adaptable for vegetarians and vegans by swapping fillings. Simple assembly keeps prep under 20 minutes, offering a playful twist on classic sandwiches to delight all ages.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:22:00 GMT
Car-shaped lunch sandwiches with colorful veggies: a delicious road trip ready meal. Save
Car-shaped lunch sandwiches with colorful veggies: a delicious road trip ready meal. | honeyflint.com

A fun, creative lunchbox meal designed to delight kids and adults alike, featuring sandwiches and snacks arranged in the shape of a car—perfect for on-the-go adventures.

This fun lunch became a hit on our last family road trip and got everyone excited about lunchtime.

Ingredients

  • Sandwich Base: 4 slices whole wheat sandwich bread, 2 tbsp cream cheese or hummus, 2 slices cheddar cheese, 2 slices deli turkey or vegetarian alternative
  • Decoration & Wheels: 4 round cucumber slices, 4 grape tomatoes or black olives, 2 baby carrots, 1 sheet nori or spinach tortilla (for windshield/trim optional)
  • Sides: 1 cup baby carrots, 1 cup grapes, 1/2 cup pretzel sticks

Instructions

Step 1:
Lay out the bread slices. Spread cream cheese or hummus on each slice.
Step 2:
Layer cheddar cheese and turkey (or vegetarian alternative) onto two slices. Top with remaining bread to make sandwiches.
Step 3:
Using a large car-shaped cookie cutter or a sharp knife, cut each sandwich into a car shape.
Step 4:
For wheels, attach cucumber slices and grape tomatoes (or olives) to the sides of each sandwich using a dab of cream cheese as glue.
Step 5:
Slice baby carrots in half and use them as bumpers. Cut small shapes from nori or spinach tortilla for windows and details attach as desired.
Step 6:
Arrange the car-shaped sandwiches in lunchboxes. Add baby carrots, grapes, and pretzel sticks as side snacks.
Step 7:
Serve immediately or pack in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack for freshness.
Freshly-made Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch ready to eat, featuring bright and healthy sides. Save
Freshly-made Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch ready to eat, featuring bright and healthy sides. | honeyflint.com

This lunch brought smiles and laughter as we built and ate our edible car creations together.

Required Tools

Car-shaped cookie cutter or paring knife Small sharp knife Spreading knife Lunchbox or bento box

Allergen Information

Contains Wheat (bread) Dairy (cream cheese cheese) Soy (possible in deli alternatives) May contain Egg (in bread or deli slices) Sesame (in hummus) Always check ingredient labels for allergen safety

Nutritional Information

Calories 320 Total Fat 10 g Carbohydrates 38 g Protein 14 g per serving

Easy to assemble Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, perfect for a fun and nutritious meal. Save
Easy to assemble Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, perfect for a fun and nutritious meal. | honeyflint.com

This car-shaped lunchbox is sure to make every meal a fun and memorable experience.

Recipe FAQs

What bread works best for shaping sandwiches?

Whole wheat bread holds its shape well and offers a nutritious base, but any sturdy sliced bread can be used.

How can I make the wheels stay on the sandwiches?

Use a small amount of cream cheese or hummus as an edible 'glue' to attach cucumber slices and grape tomatoes securely.

Can this lunch be adapted for vegan diets?

Yes, substitute plant-based cheese and deli slices, and use hummus instead of cream cheese for spreading.

Are there suggestions for alternative decorations?

Try using bell pepper strips, apple wedges, or cherry tomatoes to decorate and personalize the car shapes.

How should this lunch be stored for travel?

Pack in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to keep fresh until mealtime, especially on road trips.

Is special equipment needed to shape the sandwiches?

A car-shaped cookie cutter is ideal, but a sharp paring knife can also be used to carefully cut the shapes.

Road Trip Ready Lunch

Car-shaped sandwiches paired with fresh veggies and snacks, ideal for a quick and playful meal.

Prep duration
20 minutes
0
Total duration
20 minutes
Recipe by Julia Fenmore


Skill level Easy

Cuisine type American

Makes 2 Portions

Diet info Meatless

What you'll need

Sandwich Base

01 4 slices whole wheat sandwich bread
02 2 tablespoons cream cheese or hummus
03 2 slices cheddar cheese
04 2 slices deli turkey or vegetarian alternative

Decoration & Wheels

01 4 round cucumber slices
02 4 grape tomatoes or black olives
03 2 baby carrots
04 1 sheet nori or spinach tortilla (optional)

Sides

01 1 cup baby carrots
02 1 cup grapes
03 1/2 cup pretzel sticks

Preparation steps

Step 01

Prepare bread base: Lay out the bread slices and spread cream cheese or hummus evenly on each slice.

Step 02

Assemble sandwiches: Layer cheddar cheese and turkey or vegetarian alternative onto two slices. Top each with remaining bread slices to complete sandwiches.

Step 03

Shape sandwiches: Using a large car-shaped cookie cutter or a sharp knife, cut each sandwich into a car shape.

Step 04

Create wheels and details: Attach cucumber slices and grape tomatoes or olives to the sides of each sandwich using small dabs of cream cheese as adhesive.

Step 05

Add bumpers and trim: Slice baby carrots in half and position them as bumpers. Cut small shapes from nori or spinach tortilla for windows and decorative trim; affix as desired.

Step 06

Pack lunchbox: Arrange car-shaped sandwiches in lunchboxes and include baby carrots, grapes, and pretzel sticks as side snacks.

Step 07

Serve or store: Serve immediately or pack in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to maintain freshness.

Tools needed

  • Car-shaped cookie cutter or paring knife
  • Small sharp knife
  • Spreading knife
  • Lunchbox or bento box

Allergy details

Review each item for allergens and check with your doctor if unsure.
  • Contains wheat (bread), dairy (cream cheese, cheese), soy (possible in deli alternatives)
  • May contain egg (in bread or deli slices), sesame (in hummus)

Nutrition details (each serving)

Information here is just a guide—talk to your doctor for personal advice.
  • Calorie count: 320
  • Fat content: 10 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 38 grams
  • Proteins: 14 grams