To make reindeer bagel sandwiches, toast mini bagels and fill them with turkey or ham and cheese. Tuck two mini pretzels into the top for antlers, set a cherry tomato in the bagel hole for Rudolph’s red nose and stick on candy eyes with a dab of cream cheese. Pack them on popcorn “snow” with Grinch fruit kabobs (grape, banana, strawberry and a mini marshmallow) for a festive Christmas school lunch. Four lunchboxes take about 15 minutes.
Mini bagels turned into Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sandwiches accompanied by Grinch kabobs makes this one festive and balanced school lunch.
I simply love this time of the year! It’s a little overwhelming what a Pinterest or Instagram search can bring about but I do appreciate all the festive and fun ideas out there; I want to make ALL the things!
These reindeer bagel sandwiches have always been a highly requested holiday meal option and I am happy to make them. They are easy to make and transform any ordinary bagel into a bagel dream!
Then we add my trusty go-to healthy snack: Grinch kabobs! I find myself making these on repeat for weeks on end leading up to the holidays. My kids love them and I do too because they are a nutritious snack option and simple to assemble. I like to use cotton candy grapes and sugar-free marshmallows for my Grinch kabobs.
Why prep lunches for school?
To make meal planning more consistent and practical in my house, I aim to include four school lunch preps for my two kids in our weekly meal prep rotation. This helps us save money and ensure that two days of the week, the kids have well balanced meals that happen to be fun and festive, yet simple enough to put together in less than 15 minutes.
In these lunch preps I try to include a variety of colors as well as a good balance of the essential food groups so that my kids are getting exposure to different foods in a fun way!
Ingredients for reindeer bagel sandwiches
To make this festive and delicious reindeer bagel sandwiches school lunch meal prep, you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!
This will make 4 lunchbox containers. I love these 3 compartment food containers that I found on Amazon!
Here’s what we are working with:
For the reindeer bagel sandwiches
- mini bagels
- turkey/ham slices
- cheese slices
- cherry tomatoes
- pretzels
- candy eyes
- popcorn, optional for “snow” background
For the Grinch kabobs
How to make reindeer bagel sandwiches school lunch meal prep
You’ll find the exact amounts and printable steps in the recipe card below. Here’s what each step looks like, plus the little things that make it work.
For the reindeer bagel sandwiches
1. Toast the bagels. Toast the mini bagels and spread butter or cream cheese inside, if using. Let them cool for a minute so the cheese doesn’t melt and slide.
2. Fill and add the antlers. Place the turkey and cheese slices on the bottom half of each bagel. Tuck two mini pretzels into the top, one on each side, for the reindeer’s antlers, then close the bagel.
3. Add Rudolph’s nose. Set a cherry tomato in the bagel hole for the red nose.
4. Add the eyes. Use a small dab of cream cheese to stick the candy eyes on top.
5. Make it snow. Place the reindeer in the main compartment and scatter popcorn all around for the snow.
For the grinch kabobs
1. Build the Grinch. Cut the wooden kabobs in half. Thread 1 grape, 1 banana slice, 1 strawberry (narrow pointed end facing up) and 1 mini marshmallow onto each one so it looks like the Grinch’s face in his red Santa hat.
2. Repeat and pack. Repeat with the remaining fruit and marshmallows, then add the kabobs to the side compartments.
make-ahead tips for school lunches
You can assemble the bagels the night before and keep the lunchboxes in the fridge. Add the popcorn and pretzel antlers in the morning so they stay crunchy. Slice the banana for the Grinch kabobs last, since it browns quickly, or brush it with a little lemon juice.
more ways to serve reindeer bagels
These are just as fun for a Christmas morning breakfast, a class party or a holiday movie night. For breakfast, skip the turkey and fill the bagels with cream cheese.
We sure hope you enjoy this fun and festive reindeer bagel sandwiches school lunch meal prep as much as our little tribe has!
reindeer bagel sandwiches FAQs
Mini bagels, turkey or ham, cheese, cherry tomatoes, mini pretzels, candy eyes and a little cream cheese. Popcorn for the “snow” is optional.
Thread a green grape, a banana slice, a strawberry (pointed end up) and a mini marshmallow onto half a wooden kabob so it looks like the Grinch in his Santa hat.
A small dab of cream cheese works like glue to hold the candy eyes on the bagel.
Yes. Assemble them the night before and refrigerate. Add the popcorn and pretzels in the morning, and slice the banana last so it doesn’t brown.
This recipe makes 4 lunchboxes, with one reindeer bagel and two Grinch kabobs in each.
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Reindeer Bagel Sandwiches Meal Prep
- SFSugar Free
Ingredients
For the reindeer bagel sandwiches
- 4 mini bagels
- 4 turkey/ham slices
- 4 cheese slices
- 4 cherry tomatoes
- 8 pretzels
- 8 candy eyes
- cream cheese, optional, for spreading and to attach the eyes
- 1 cup popcorn, optional for “snow” background
For the grinch kabobs
- 8 green grapes
- 8 fresh strawberries
- 1 banana , cut into slices
- 8 sugar-free mini marshmallows
- 4 wooden kabobs, cut in half
Instructions
For the reindeer bagel sandwiches
- Toast the mini bagels and spread butter or cream cheese inside if using.
- Place turkey and cheese slices on the bottom half of the bagel and two pretzels on the top of each side for the antlers; close the bagel.
- Place a cherry tomato inside the bagel hole for the reindeer’s nose.
- Using a small dab of cream cheese, place the candy eyes on top.
- Place the popcorn all around to create the snow.
For the grinch kabobs
- Thread 1 grape, 1 banana slice, 1 strawberry (narrow pointed end facing up), and 1 marshmallow onto half a wooden kabob to resemble the Grinch’s head in his red hat.
- Repeat with remaining grapes, banana slices, strawberries, and marshmallows.
Equipment
- 4 Kids Lunch Box 3 Compartment Containers
Nutrition
Did you make this food art lunch prep? Don’t forget to tag thetastefultribe on instagram @thetastefultribe if you create this fun reindeer bagel sandwiches school lunch. We love seeing your version! You can also post your pictures to our facebook page!
