I’ve got a great idea! Let’s dip our carrots in the houmous! – JD, 4
Coming up with healthy lunchbox ideas that keep them interested through the school term is a challenge.
There’s nothing wrong with occasional treats, but to keep children strong, alert and free from illnesses related to poor diet, the NHS recommends that all packed lunches should contain a mix of starch (bread, pasta, rice and potatoes), protein (fish, meat, egg, peas and beans), dairy (cheese, yoghurt), vegetables/salad, and a portion of fruit.
I’m not a nutritionist, but I do enjoy trying out new ways to keep healthy mealtimes interesting, so here are four ideas for healthy lunchboxes.
Veg and rice
Mix some cooled brown rice with a handful of cooked veg (including peas or beans) and a spoonful of tomato sauce. Pack with a little pot of reduced fat grated cheese, some salad and a piece of fruit for a tasty, balanced meal.
Fajitas they make at the table
A wholemeal flatbread wrap, a pot of light cream cheese, strips of fresh peppers and cooked chicken for a treat they can put together themselves at the table.
Raw veg dippers
Wholemeal pitta bread, a little pot of houmous and fingers of fresh veg and salad to dip.
Vitamin packed dessert
A pot of fresh yoghurt and a swirl of honey. It’s simple, fun and something they can help prepare themselves in the morning.
These ideas were created for a feature in the Nottingham Post’s Weekend magazine, which you can pick up from newsagents around Nottingham this morning.
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I love the idea of the little fajitas they can make, they would go down a treat in my house.
Brilliant ideas. So pleased you got coverage in the local press! :)
Flatbread wraps! In my day we had to make do with strips of newspaper!
Seriously, looks great :-)
I love these ideas. My girls get bored with sandwiches everyday – thanks for the ideas.
I would be happy to eat those for my lunch…my 9yr old daughter would love all of them but my 11yr old son would be far too embarrassed to take it…I used to have to peel his satsuma as he was too embarrassed to peel it in front of his friends!
x
All looks tasty to me but don’t think theres a single thing there my 5yo would eat! Nice ideas to bear in mind when the twins are older if they turn out to be more fruit & veg friendly children!
I’d love all these lunches – my 3yo is a bit more fussy though.
Some great ideas there. My kids have school dinners but the little man is about to start pre-school and I have to do him lunch twice a week he’d love your raw veg dippers and the fruit and yoghurt dessert.