Growing kids need lots of starchy foods to fill them up and give them plenty of energy. Nutritious meals that are packed with fibre, protein, carbohydrates and vitamins will help your child’s growing bones and give them that extra boost to keep them focused for the afternoon ahead. These, along with fruit and/ or vegetables, should form the main part of your child’s lunch.
There really are a whole host of different options you can fill your child’s lunchbox with, from wraps to quiche to pasta to leftover dinners. So, once you use your
imagination there’s really no excuse for daily cheese sandwiches. Here are some great ideas for main lunchbox fillers:
Sandwich/wrap/pita/Panini/bagel options:
• Tuna, sweetcorn and mayo • Egg, mayo, diced onion, chopped tomato and chopped lettuce • Chicken, sweet peppers, rocket and Caesar dressing • Chicken and stuffing • Roasted vegetables and pesto • Turkey and stuffing with cranberry sauce • Houmous and salad: Houmous, lettuce, cucumber and salad • Prawn, avocado and mayo • Ploughman’s: cheddar cheese and pickle • Bacon, tomato, avocado and cream cheese • Chicken tikka: Cucumber, lettuce, spring onions, chicken tikka pieces and natural yoghurt • Mozzarella, tomato and pesto • Cream cheese, cucumber, sundried tomato and pesto • Coronation chicken: chicken, mayo, a little curry powder, sultanas and mango chutney • Chicken, houmous, avocado, cherry tomatoes and cheddar cheese • Sliced strawberries and cream cheese • Peanut butter and banana • Smoked salmon, cream cheese and a little lemon • Turkey, peppers and cream cheese • Roast beef, grated carrot, lettuce and chutney
Pasta, rice and other alternatives to sandwiches:
Some kids just don’t like sandwiches, so even if you go to the trouble of cutting up your little munchkins tuna and sweetcorn sandwich into little star shapes,
it’s still going to come home uneaten. Don’t despair however; there are lots of other delicious, easily prepared tummy fillers to pop into your fussy eater’s
lunchbox.
Pasta:
• Pasta salad with tomatoes, peppers, chives, cucumber and a little olive oil • Pasta salad with turkey, cooked broccoli, cherry tomatoes and a little soy sauce, honey and lemon juice • Pasta with some cooked vegetables and a light coating of a tomato puree sauce
Rice/ couscous:
• Curried rice with raisins • Rice with roasted aubergine, courgette, red onions, tomato and peppers • Couscous with juice of half a lime, chopped chicken and chopped roasted peppers • Couscous, feta cheese, pesto, red pepper, cucumber, toasted pine nuts, spring onions.
Other yummy alternatives:
• Ham, cheese and pineapple scrolls • Quiche Lorraine • Quiche with mushrooms, leeks, onions, bacon, peppers and tomatoes • Pizza pittas • Sausage rolls
• Samosas • Quesadillas • Left-over homemade pizza • Soups • Baked potato with tuna and sweetcorn • Pizza muffins • Vegetable spring rolls • Savoury scones
