Healthy Veggie Pinwheels

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Who said kids don’t want to eat their vegetables? These bite-sized veggie pinwheels are a nutrition-packed kids snack or lunchbox hit! They’re packed with protein and lots of nutritious veggies and taste amazing!

close up of a veggie pinwheel sandwich; text overlay "Veggie Pinwheels"

Healthy Veggie Pinwheels

I’ll be totally honest here…it can be a struggle some days to get my kids to eat enough vegetables!

They like broccoli, but I’d love for them to eat more than just broccoli! So what’s a mom to do??

These veggie pinwheels are a total WIN! They’re easy to make, easy to eat, and easy to pack in a lunch box. Plus, the kids love them!

Filled with light and crunchy vegetables these little pinwheels pack a punch of both flavor and nutrition. I also snuck in some hemp hearts for extra protein and good fats.

While these are a great way to sneak some veggies in my kid’s day, they are also a great lunch for grown-ups too!

Getting spinach, cucumber and carrots into your toddler can sometimes be a hassle. My favorite part about these pinwheels is that they’re bite sized. Easy for little kids to grab and eat without all the mess of a full wrap. This makes it more likely for them to eat them and thus get in a few more veggie servings!

These healthy veggie pinwheels are easy to whip up and make a great, vegetable based snack for kids! They’re full of simple ingredients and bite-sized to make them easy for toddlers. They make a great after-school snack.

PS – for a completely opposite take on healthy pinwheel sandwiches, check out Jennifer’s Keto Meatwiches (bread-free pinwheel sandwiches).

Why this recipe rocks:

  • Good source of protein and vegetables
  • Easy to make in just a few minutes
  • Portable and practically mess free

4-step collage image showing how to make vegetable pinwheel sandwiches

Veggie Roll-Ups Ingredients

  • 1/2 large cucumber, peeled
  • 1 1/4 cups spinach
  • 1 large carrot, peeled
  • 1/2 container regular cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
  • 4 large wraps (burrito size)

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful:

Substitution Ideas

If you don’t have some of these ingredients on hand (hemp hearts may not always been easy to find), you can make some easy substitutions that will taste just as delicious.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Hemp hearts are high in protein, which is why we love them. However, you can also use flax seeds or chia seeds instead. 
  • Fresh spinach can have a bit of an aftertaste, so feel free to swap with fresh kale (my fav!) or shredded lettuce.
  • Greek yogurt is a great substitute for cream cheese. You can also use a non-dairy substitute, such as dairy free ranch dressing. Hummus is a great option too!

veggie pinwheels on cutting board

Directions

First, prep your ingredients:

  • Remove cream cheese from refrigerator to soften.
  • Wash and dry free vegetables.
  • Shred the carrots, chop the spinach and peel the cucumber into ribbons. A carrot or potato peeler is helpful for this step.

To Make the Wraps:

Using a silicone spatula or a knife, spread the cream cheese over the wraps (about two tablespoons per wrap).

Divide up the cucumber into the wraps and then top with the carrot and spinach.

tortilla flat on counter with sliced carrots and spinach on top

Pour half a tablespoon of hemp hearts into each wrap.

adding hemp hearts to a veggie wrap

Tightly roll the wrap and use a sharp knife to cut into slices, about 1-inch wide. If needed, secure each wheel with a toothpick.

Each wrap makes roughly six pinwheels for a total of 24.

close up of veggie pinwheel slices on cutting board

Can You Make these Ahead of Time?

I like to prepare school lunches at night before I go to bed. That way we can just grab lunch and go in the morning, because we always seem to be in a rush!

You can make these pinwheels ahead of time and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to enjoy. I don’t recommend keeping them in the fridge longer than overnight, however, as the wraps may start to become soggy.

Is this Recipe Vegetarian?

Because we used a cream cheese spread, which is dairy-based, this recipe as written is not vegetarian. However, it can be easily modified to be vegetarian and/or vegan!

Simply use your favorite spread. Hummus would work wonderfully in these veggie wraps!

Veggie Pinwheels Recipe (Printable Copy)

Yield: 24 pieces

Healthy Veggie Pinwheels

veggie pinwheel sandwiches on cutting board

Who said kids don't want to eat their vegetables? These bite-sized veggie pinwheels are a nutrition-packed kids snack or lunchbox hit! They're packed with protein and lots of nutritious veggies and taste amazing!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 large cucumber, peeled
  • 1 1/4 cups spinach
  • 1 large carrot, peeled
  • 1/2 container regular cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
  • 4 large wraps (burrito size)

Instructions

    1. Using a silicone spatula or a knife, spread the cream cheese over the wraps (about two tablespoons per wrap).
    2. Shred the carrots, chop the spinach and peel the cucumber into ribbons with a carrot peeler.
    3. Divide up the cucumber into the wraps and then top with the carrot and spinach.
    4. Pour half a tablespoon of hemp hearts into each wrap.
    5. Tightly roll the wrap and use a sharp knife to cut into wheels.
    6. If you like, secure each wheel with a toothpick.
    7. Each wrap makes roughly six pinwheels for a total of 24.

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary based on exact ingredients and amounts used.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 49Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 67mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g

 

For more easy lunch box ideas, check out our pepperoni & cheese pizza muffins and our back-to-school chalkboard cupcakes.

pizza cheese muffins

cupcakes decorated to look like mini chalkboards

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4 Comments

  1. I love having pinwheels ready to go as a nice quick snack or a bite before the kids run off somewhere! So simple, but so much better than your average packaged snack or plain veggies!

      1. They were made in a regular muffin tray and the baking time reflects that, but they could definitely be made in a mini-muffin pan.
        -Jennifer

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