Packed lunch makeovers
Variety makes eating more fun as well as healthy – here are some imaginative alternatives to the ham sandwich!
The morning rush and a child’s tendency to go on and off foods on a whim means you can easily get into a rut of making the same lunch day after day, week after week. Beat boredom and make packed lunch a welcome pit stop in your child’s school day.
Try this sandwich-free week
Monday: Pitta bread toasted, cut into ‘soldiers’ with a pot of hummus for dipping, along with carrot and cucumber sticks.
Tuesday: Wrap (soft tortilla) rolled with slices of ham and green pepper strips.
Wednesday: Jacket potato cut in half with insides scooped out, mashed and mixed with grated cheese, chives and a little mayo, then put back in the jackets.
Wrap in foil to keep them soft and warm.
Thursday: Pasta salad. Mix pasta, tuna flakes and mayo with onion/sweet corn/black olives.
Friday: Buttered rice cakes or crackers (buttered sides together to avoid mess) with chicken drumsticks and baby whole tomatoes.
Lunchbox extras
• As a change from apple, choose a more exotic fruit like apricot, plum, kiwi, cherries, water melon chunks, or fruit salad in a sealable pot.
• Use empty yoghurt pots for a sweetcorn salad with red pepper, tomato and cucumber.
• Make a ‘veggie party’ with celery, carrot sticks, mange touts and baby corn according to your child’s taste.
Savvy tip
Your child needs to be hydrated to maximise concentration. For a healthy drink, make batches of fruit smoothie and freeze them in empty plastic water bottles. These are quick to grab in the morning, and by lunchtime the smoothie will be liquid – but still chilled.
Pass it on – healthy packed lunch inspiration
The website of the British Nutrition Foundation has some great suggestions for nutritionally balanced packed lunches.