Cut sandwiches and toast into strips to reduce "jelly mouth"

Photo credit: Yum Sugar

Mommy Prof's practical lunch suggestion:

If you have a messy eater like mine, who seems to always have as much jelly/peanut butter/hummus, etc. on her mouth as in it, you can help by cutting sandwiches and toast differently. Instead of cutting the bread into quarters, cut it into 3 or 4 long strips - narrow enough to go into the mouth neatly.

For sandwiches that are floppy, cut in half and then cut the halves into the strips.

Your kids will love little finger sandwiches. Great for school lunches, snacks, and (of course) tea party savouries. As a child, my husband ate sandwiches this way. When he has a cold or needs cheering up, I'll make him a grilled cheese sandwich cut into "little soldiers."

What is it about "bite-sized" food that makes it so irresistible?

More: Hacks for school lunches

Comments

[Frances]

We call them "soldaatjes" (soldiers) in Dutch. They're the perfect size for dunking into the egg yolk of your soft boiled egg.

[Jo]

I have to laugh. My dad broke his ankle when he was about 70. He is always very tough, but he requested his toast cut up in a similar way (thin triangles) like his mom used to dol ;)

[Asha Dornfest]

Frances! My husband is from S. Africa, and while his family didn't usually speak Afrikaans, I'm sure that's why his mother called them "soldiers!"

[L.]

My family is Romanian, and they also call strips of bagel or toast "soldiers." I had sort of hoped we could stop teaching children about soldiers altogether. :)

[Ned]

"Little soldiers" they are...! I have never tried having sandwiches this way.. Thanks for the idea! Bite sized food is the best kind of food:D