Everything on a stick, nothing touching anything else
Cut a block of cheddar into half-inch cubes, roll slices of deli turkey into short logs, and thread them onto short bamboo skewers with a grape tomato at the end.
Five minutes at the counter gives you eight of them. They go in a flat container with a paper towel underneath and they come out looking exactly the way they went in.
A kid who does not want the tomato slides it off and still eats the turkey, which is the whole reason this beats a mixed container. Use blunt-tipped skewers, and cut the cubes small for anyone under four.
Ingredients
The batch makes 6 skewers. Plan on about 12 minutes, no cooking.
- 6 slices deli turkey
- 6 ounces cheddar or mozzarella, cut into cubes
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 12 small crackers or pretzel squares
- 6 short wooden skewers or sturdy toothpicks
How to Make It
- Fold each turkey slice into quarters so it sits like a little ruffle.
- Thread a cheese cube onto a skewer, then a folded turkey piece.
- Add a cherry tomato and a cracker, then repeat until the skewer is full.
- Leave a little bare skewer at the bottom so it is easy to hold.
Make It Work for Picky Kids
Skewers let a kid eat one thing at a time, so a tomato hater can just slide it off.
- Build a cheese-and-turkey-only skewer for the kid who skips tomatoes
- Use blunt toothpicks or take the food off the stick for younger kids
- Keep the crackers separate so they stay crunchy until snack time
Pack or Store
These fit a bento box well and hold up for the car ride to a game.
- Lay the skewers flat in a container so nothing slides off
- Pack the crackers in a side cup and add them right before eating
- Keep the cheese and turkey cold with an ice pack
- Serve with: a piece of fruit, a glass of milk
Parent Tip
Cut the cheese into firm cubes so they stay on the skewer instead of crumbling.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
Caprese stick
Mozzarella pearls with a basil leaf and cherry tomato make a version an adult will finish too.
Ham and Swiss
Rolled ham with Swiss cubes travels the same way and costs about a dollar less per batch.
Grape and cheddar
Halved red grapes instead of tomatoes suit a kid who leans sweet over savory.
Pickle chip
A folded dill chip between the cheese and turkey adds a salty bite after a hot game.
Pepperoni stack
Mozzarella, folded pepperoni, and tomato taste like a pizza bite without any oven involved.
Skewer-free box
The same pieces in a divided box work for younger siblings who should not have a pointed stick.
Plan the next step
Find more handheld snacks
Browse a few more grab-and-go bites for the bench or the bleachers.