Healthy
Lunchboxes
Top tips & ideas for a yummy, healthy lunchbox
Preparing a lunchbox
Food can be a choking hazard for younger children because they often do not chew their food so well, and find small, round, firm foods more difficult to eat.
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It is important to prepare and serve food safely to reduce the risk of choking. Here are some food preparation ideas to help with this:
for a younger child
Small fruits (for example grapes, tomatoes, berries)
For fruits that are round and small, it is important to cut them into smaller pieces to make it easier for a child to eat. Try cutting them into quarters- 4 small pieces- or halves- 2 pieces.
Grapes should still be cut into halves, or quarters until a child is 5.
Large, firmer fruits (for example apple, melon)
Cut into slices, not chunks.
Stones or hard pips in fruit (for example peach, plum)
For fruits that are round and small, it is important to cut them into smaller pieces to make it easier for a child to eat. Try cutting them into quarters- 4 small pieces- or halves- 2 pieces.
Grapes should still be cut into halves, or quarters until a child is 5.
Vegetables (for example cucumber, carrots, peppers)
By age 2, children can eat raw vegetables. Cut vegetables into thin batons/ sticks for young children.
Meat or fish
Remove all bones. Cut soft meat into thin, short strips.
Bread (for example wholegrain, white, chapatis, bagels)
Cut breads into thin strips, or quarters.
Cheese
Grate, crumble or cut cheese into thin strips.
Nuts or popcorn
Do not give popcorn or whole nuts to children under 5. You could try using chopped or flaked nuts instead. However, most nurseries or schools have a ‘no nuts’ policy. This means for allergy reasons all food on site, including lunchboxes, should not include nuts.
