Whether it’s back to school or just starting, healthy, nutritious lunches are crucial for children to make the most of every day.
The first step to a great lunch with lots of variety is a good lunch box. Aim for something with a few different compartments to minimise the need for wrappings. The Organised Housewife also suggests that lunch boxes are:
-BPA-free
-Sealed tight for freshness
-Easy to clean
-Not too big, not too small
-Dishwasher safe
Depending on your climate and choice of snacks, an option for a lunch bag or box that is insulated or able to be cooled is a great idea too.
From carrot sticks to crackers, popcorn to berries and everything in between – the options are endless for lunchbox snacks. There are plenty of creative and fun ideas available online for cutting sandwiches into adorable shapes and presenting fruit and veg as fun-size kebabs too – see our list of resources at the end of the blog and explore.
Healthy alternatives can take a little more planning and/or time, but it’s well worth the extra effort just to know exactly what is going into children’s little, growing bodies. Some muesli bar and slice recipes are actually incredibly simple AND incredibly delicious. Give them a go and share your recommendations with us on Facebook or here on the blog. For a healthy alternative that’s as easy as can be, fruit is always a winner!
Another great tip to consider when putting lunches together is to include children in preparing the lunch. Simple spreading, arranging and cutting of sandwich toppings is a useful life skill. Plus, children tend to be more interested in eating something they helped to make too! Eventually, children will be excited to make their own healthy lunches and might even come up with some tasty combinations you hadn’t thought of.
While you’re focusing on the wellbeing of children, spare a thought for the wellbeing of the environment too and aim for a rubbish-free lunchbox. This means less risk of flyaway wrappers not making it to the correct bin and chances are the less packaging a lunchbox item has, the healthier and more natural it is.
Another very important consideration is allergies – please make sure you’re aware of the allergen policy at your child’s place of education as this can vary. We all have to do our bit to protect young children from risks, and in some cases allergic reactions pose enormous risk to some children.
Did you know that Bonkers the Monkey happens to be a huge fan of healthy eating? Take a look at Bonkers and his healthy eating adventure here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.829328450436364.1073741953.343913688977845&type=3
Resources for you:
http://www.nudefoodmovers.com.
https://www.ohsobusymum.com.
http://www.kidsfoodtalk.com.
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/kids+healthy+lunch+box+ideas