|
Healthy Eating For Children's Packed Lunches Times have changed for children's packed lunches over the years, gone are the days of jam and chocolate spread sandwiches, as parents and schools take the healthy eating approach for children. We are not going to tell you what you should and shouldn't place in your kids lunch boxes, the choice is yours but thought it would be nice to share some ideas. Studies have proved that having a healthy balanced lunch can improve your children's attention whilst at school and together with their behaviour which will help them learn throughout the day at school. It is recommended children under 5 shouldn't be eating a low fat food. Each packed lunch for your child should contain the following: A source of protein keeping children alert complex carbohydrate for slow release energy calcium for growth, healthy bones and teeth fruit and vegetables for vitamins and minerals Drink - water, milk or juice non carbonated drinks
Creating a healthy lunchtime meal for your children. Some ideas for lunch: Ham and tomato, slice wholegrain bread sandwich, small banana, low fat fromage frais, muesli bar or flapjack salmon bagel, cherry tomatoes, box of raisins, cheese triangle. 2 mini pitta pockets with hummous or edam cheese with sliced red or yellow pepper, satsuma or pear, carrot sticks and small cream cheese dip.
Making packed lunches bright and colourful including different tastes and textures will keep a child healthy and interested in their lunch. Protein choices: Ham, Turkey, Chicken, Fish eg tuna or crabsticks, cottage cheese, egg or hummous.
Carbs: Use a variety of breads, sliced, rolls, baguettes, bagels, tortilla wraps, pitta bread, crispbreads, pasta or rice salads.
Calcium: Yoghurt or fromage frais, individual cheese portions or low fat cheese spread, yoghurt, smoothies, carton of milk.
Fruit and Vegetables: Slices of pepper added to their sandwiches, apples, oranges, grapes, nectarines, satsuma or pears, small bananas.
Tips for your Lunch boxes use an insulated lunch bag make colourful skewers using straws with bite size pieces of fruit peel clementine's and cover with pastic wrap ensure salads remain crisp - keep the salad dressing separate so they pour on themselves to prevent it going soggy keeping the contents of your kids lunch boxes cool, freeze a carton or plastic bottled water overnight, will keep contents cool and be defrosted by lunchtime or use ice packs Cut up vegetable sticks - wrap in damp kitchen paper to prevent drying out cut sandwiches into novelty shapes for younger children draw a face on a banana create a face on their bagel. Add a one of our drinks bottles to hold their water and fits neatly into their lunch bag
Taking care of your lunch bag / boxes wipe down daily in the inner lunch box and bags making sure its dry before adding todays lunch Keep their lunch bags out of direct sunlight All our lunch bags are insulated and designed to keep food at the right temperature and large enough to hold your childrens lunch time meal.
Click on the image below for more interesting receipes and activities for your children coming soon Have any tips or interesting packed lunches then please let us know so we may add to our page. Receipes and tips taken from Spearmark Housewares 'Whats for Lunch' booklet a guide to healthier packed lunches for your child.
|
