Packed lunches

Packed lunches, just like any other meal, should have a balance of ingredients to fit in with healthy eating guidelines. But that’s not to say a healthy lunch box has to be a boring lunch box.

Try these tips for making sure their packed lunch packs a few surprises as well as a healthy, nourishing meal in the middle of the day:

Offer a variety of foods throughout the week.
Make sure food looks good as well as tasting good by adding different colours and textures: baby sweet corn, sliced red pepper, carrots and cucumber.
Always include a drink in the lunch box to make sure they don’t become dehydrated during the afternoon. Water, fruit juice or milk are all healthy choices.
Make sweet stuff, such as chocolate, biscuits and cakes an occasional treat rather than everyday items.

As well as something to drink, a healthy packed lunch should contain:

One portion of vegetables or salad and one portion of fruit (fresh, canned or dried can all count).
One portion of a milk or dairy item such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or a yoghurt drink.
One portion of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, peanut butter, beans or other protein source.
One portion of a starchy food, such as bread, pasta, rice, noodles or potatoes.

To find out more about how to pack a healthier lunchbox, try visiting these sites:

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Packed lunches