With a million things to deal with on a busy midweek morning, filling your child’s lunchbox can seem like just another tiresome item on your To-Do list – we get it. But while a jam sandwich might seem like the quickest option, jazzing up a school lunch without cutting nutritional value is easier than you think!
 
The National Dairy Council’s Win With Dairy campaign is currently promoting the importance of a balanced diet in children and how dairy can provide the goodness your child needs. Not only does a nutritional lunch benefit your child’s growth and development, showing them that ‘healthy’ can also mean ‘fun and tasty’ gets them into the great habit of caring about what they eat.
 
Here are a few simple ways to spruce up the lunchbox.
 
Add variety
Experiment with different types of bread, especially if your children begin to lose interest in sandwiches. Try seeded rolls, pitta bread, flat bread, bagels and wraps.  Buy in bulk when these foods are on offer and keep them in the freezer for lunchboxes and picnics!
 
Include some dairy products
These can all help to contribute to your child’s calcium and vitamin D intakes and are perfect additions to their lunchbox. Three servings are recommended per day for children aged 5-8 years, with five daily servings recommended for those aged 9-18 years. Examples of a serving include 200ml of milk, 125ml of yogurt or 25g of hard cheese, such as cheddar.
 
Team effort
Involve children in preparing their school lunch. This will encourage them to take an interest in food as well as ensuring the foods they like are included.
 
Vary the fillings
Ideas for fillings include different types of cheese, tuna with sweetcorn, egg with spring onion, salmon with cucumber, or turkey with relish.  Hummus and salsa make good spreads and can even be included separately with carrot sticks.
 
Utilise leftovers
Add chopped tomatoes, peppers and cucumber to leftover pasta or rice and mix with a little crème fraiche or salsa for an instant tasty salad
 
Hydration
Water and milk are the best drinks for children. They can also be frozen overnight to help keep food in your child’s lunchbox cool and will be defrosted by lunch.  Make sure your child always has their own water bottle with them at school, when playing sports or when travelling. 
 

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