As we ease into the new year, do you find yourself back making daily packed lunches for your kids again? After all the Christmas indulgence, you may well be looking for some healthier lunch box options for your children.
There are so many ways you can use our Stainless Steel lunch boxes to pack a varied, tasty and healthy lunch box for your kids. Our lunch box comes with a divider, meaning you can separate foods, stopping dry food from becoming soggy. Our smaller sized metal snack pot fits perfectly inside, if you want to keep fruit, sauces, dips or anything else contained separately in the lunchbox. Since the lunch box is leakproof, you don't have to worry about leakages and spills inside your bag.
So what is considered a healthy packed lunch for children?
Cherry tomatoes, apple slices, orange slices, berries and bananas, or sticks of carrot, cucumber, celery and peppers all count towards their 5 A Day. Even adding a small pot of reduced-fat hummus or any other low-fat dip may help encourage kids to eat vegetables. Try adding salad to sandwiches and wraps too.
Base the main lunchbox item on foods like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. Keep them fuller for longer by choosing wholegrain where you can. If your child doesn't like wholegrain try making sandwiches from one slice of white bread and one slice of brown bread. Wraps and pots of fillings can be more exciting for kids when they get to make them, dipping foods are also more fun, and is a great alternative to sandwiches.
Try lower-fat fillings such as lean meats including chicken or turkey, tuna or salmon, cream cheese and hard cheese. You should try to avoid mayonnaise in sandwiches where you can or only add a small amount. Pop in low-fat and lower sugar yoghurts or fromage frais and add your own fruit, or even muesli, giving your children a chance to eat it how they want.
Cut down on the crisps. Try swapping them for homemade plain popcorn or plain rice cakes. You could even opt for dried vegetable and fruit crisps instead to make it more interesting. Many of them are delicious!
Try chopped apple, peeled satsuma segments, strawberries, blueberries, halved grapes or melon slices to make it easier for them to eat. Swap the fruit bars for dried fruits such as raisins or dried apricots, but keep in mind to keep these for mealtimes as they can be bad for the teeth.
Swap cakes, chocolate, cereal bars and biscuits for malt loaf, fruited teacakes, fruit breads, or make your own healthier homemade treats. A great way to cut down on waste too!
What do you like to put in your child's lunchbox? We would really love to hear!