Healthy
Lunchboxes
Top tips & ideas for a yummy, healthy lunchbox
Getting started...
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, so it’s important your child eats a healthy, balanced diet to make sure they’re getting the nutrients and energy they need to stay healthy.
This is also a vital time for healthy tooth development and prevention of decay. Although tooth decay can start early in life, the good news is that it can be prevented by brushing teeth well twice a day, and by reducing the amount of sugar in the foods we eat and drink.
As a child gets older it can be more difficult to control what they eat or drink, so educating children in the early years of their lives is important to encourage healthy habits for the future.
School meals can be a great lunch choice for your child, but if you decide to provide them with a lunchbox this booklet will provide you with a range of quick, easy and healthy ideas and tips.
The key to a healthy lunchbox is variety and getting the right balance of foods. That means plenty of foods that contain the nutrients your child needs, and fewer foods that are high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
As a general rule a lunchbox should contain:
Starchy foods – such as bread, rice, potatoes, wraps, pitta, couscous, chapatti and pasta
Protein foods – such as beans, fish, eggs, meat and meat alternatives such as Quorn or soya products
A dairy item – such as yoghurt or cheese or a dairy free alternative
Vegetables or salad, and a portion of fruit
A healthy drink – plain water or semi-skimmed milk is recommended
Resource icons
Throughout this website look for the following symbols.
TOOTH
Tooth friendly advice
HEALTH
Ideas for healthier choices
TIME
Time-saving ideas
VARIETY
Ideas to keep lunchboxes new and exciting
ALTERNATIVE
Food swaps for restricted diets
DIFFICULTY
Rates a recipe as easy, medium or hard to make
COST
Money-saving ideas
RECIPE
Lunchbox items with a recipe provided
