Road Trip Car Lunch

Featured in: Seasonal Treats

This creative lunch features sandwiches cut and decorated to look like cars, combining whole wheat bread with creamy cheese, deli slices, and fresh veggies. Cucumber wheels, grape tomato details, and baby carrots add playful touches, while sides like grapes and pretzels complete the meal. Quick to assemble and perfect for travel or packed lunches, the dish suits vegetarians and can be adapted with vegan alternatives. Fun and nutritious, it turns mealtime into an adventure for all ages.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:13:00 GMT
Vibrant photo of a Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, featuring fun sandwich cars with colorful veggie wheels. Pin
Vibrant photo of a Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, featuring fun sandwich cars with colorful veggie wheels. | cinnamonnest.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 lunch was a hit on our last family trip, making the meal exciting and encouraging even my picky eaters to eat their veggies.

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.
A creative children's plate of Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, complete with fresh grape sides for fun. Pin
A creative children's plate of Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, complete with fresh grape sides for fun. | cinnamonnest.com

This meal brings smiles and creates lasting memories as we share fun and nutritious lunch times 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 (per serving)

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

Delicious Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, a fun, easy-to-make lunchbox meal with carrot bumper details. Pin
Delicious Road Trip Ready Car-Shaped Lunch, a fun, easy-to-make lunchbox meal with carrot bumper details. | cinnamonnest.com

This car-shaped lunch is sure to brighten any day and make meal times much more enjoyable.

Recipe FAQ

How do I shape the sandwiches into cars?

Use a car-shaped cookie cutter or carefully shape sandwiches with a sharp knife to resemble a car silhouette.

What can I use for the wheels on the sandwiches?

Slices of cucumber and grape tomatoes or olives work well as wheels, attached with a dab of cream cheese.

Can this lunch be made vegan-friendly?

Yes, replace cream cheese and deli meat with plant-based alternatives to suit a vegan diet.

What sides complement this meal best?

Baby carrots, grapes, and pretzel sticks provide crunchy and sweet sides that pair nicely with the sandwiches.

How can I keep the lunch fresh during transport?

Pack it in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to maintain freshness until mealtime.

Road Trip Car Lunch

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

Prep duration
20 min
0
Total duration
20 min

Category Seasonal Treats

Difficulty Easy

Origin American

Yield 2 Servings

Dietary requirements Vegetarian

Ingredients

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

Directions

Step 01

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

Step 02

Assemble sandwiches: Place cheddar cheese and deli turkey or vegetarian alternative onto two bread slices, then top with the remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.

Step 03

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

Step 04

Attach wheels and details: Affix cucumber slices and grape tomatoes or olives to the sandwich sides as wheels using a dab of cream cheese as adhesive.

Step 05

Add bumpers and trim: Slice baby carrots in half to create bumpers. Cut small shapes from nori or spinach tortilla for windows and decorate as desired.

Step 06

Arrange and pack: Place car-shaped sandwiches into lunchboxes and add baby carrots, grapes, and pretzel sticks as sides.

Step 07

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

Necessary tools

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

Allergy information

Review ingredients carefully for potential allergens and consult with a healthcare provider if you're uncertain.
  • Contains wheat, dairy, and soy. May contain egg and sesame.

Nutritional information (per serving)

These values are approximate guidelines only and shouldn't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbs: 38 g
  • Protein: 14 g