Skip the sandwich, pack cucumber sushi for school lunch

As school starts back up across Indiana, I thought it would be fun to share a unique lunch idea—one that kids enjoy making and eating. Let me preface this by saying I don't have children, but I do pack my lunch every day! For the first five years post-college, I packed a turkey sandwich on multigrain bread with provolone cheese and mustard every day. And I liked it. In fact, I looked forward to it!

But one day, I just couldn't do it. I could not eat another turkey sandwich.

I needed a replacement that was equally healthy and equally cheap.

I present you with cucumber sushi! They're easy to make and easy to customize.

Use a melon baller to remove the seeds from the inside of a cucumber and stuff the hollowed-out part with your favorite fillings. The sushi in these pictures consist of ham, cheese, carrots, and peppers.

Serve your cucumber sushi with hummus or soy sauce (I actually use amino acids) for dipping.

Cucumber sushi
Ingredients

• 1 cucumber
• 2 slices ham or lunch meat of choice
• 1 string cheese, cut in fourths
• Matchstick carrots
• Red pepper, cut julienne style

Directions

1. Cut off ends of cucumber. Slice in half.
2. Hollow out center of cucumber using a melon baller. Leave about 1/2 inch of cucumber from the edges.
3. Stuff cucumber with rolled-up ham, cheese, carrots, and peppers until center is filled.
4. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
5. Serve cold with hummus and soy sauce. Refrigerate leftovers.