Healthy Lunchboxes

As we begin another school year the dreaded "what am I going to put in the lunchboxes?" arises. As a mum of two boys, with very different appetites, I know how frustrating it can be when they either come home starving or the lunchbox is still full. I have a few tried and tested tips that work well as we all manage this together each morning...

Tip 1 - Leftovers are the best! Whether it's the mince from 'Taco Tuesday' night dinner, noodles, fried rice, shepherds pie, or sausages and mashed potato - everything tastes better the next day. A thermos with leftovers seems to be a winner in our house. I've even sent a spag bol jaffle (toasted sandwich) which was apparently "awesome!". 

Tip 2 - A cracker/biscuit box in the fridge with all the half opened packets of rice crackers, Jatz, and lavosh to quickly pull out each morning makes things a bit quicker. 

Tip 3 - A variety of food groups makes things more interesting. Coloured fruit and vege cut up, a sweet treat, variety of 'main' meals means that our children are receiving vitamins and minerals from all the food groups. 

Tip 4 - Work with what is familiar. My boys don't like yoghurt at school as we've had a few spills and it's not as cold as they like it, so I stopped putting it in the lunhbox. Including food that is familiar can be a comfort and knowing they enjoy certain foods is key to giving our children the fuel they need to learn. 

Tip 5 - Involve the children to pack their own lunch box. I know if I left it completely to my sons it would be full of food that definitiely fits in the 'sometimes' category. There are some non-negotiables (fruit, vege sticks, and a hearty main) and the rest they can choose what they want each morning. 

Tip 6 - It doesn't have to be Pinterest worthy. I've bought the crinkly cutters for the watermelon, the sandwich punches...you name it. One son loved it while the other one felt like his friends were looking at him weirdly as he ate watermelon sticks that looked like crinkly cut potato chips! I've taught students who looked forward to opening their lunch box to see what shape their sandwich was cut into each day. Find what works for your child. 

Here are a number of websites that have some fantastic ideas for when inspiration has dried up. 

https://www.lunchboxweek.org/recipes

https://healthymadetasty.com.au/healthy-lunch-box/

Mrs Wilson