Back to school is here! Sending pint-sized pie holes to school with a healthy lunch is important for their health, eating habits, brain function... Yada yada yada. We all know why it's important. Let's discuss some ways to get kids not only eating their lunch, but also excited about their lunch.
When kids are young, often they are happy with the same, or similar foods on a daily basis. But as kids get older, their palates develop and their food repertoire increases.

Lunch ideas:
- Use wholemeal or wholegrain bread
- Use peanut butter where the only ingredient is 'peanuts'
- Substitute jam with sliced seasonal fruit (strawberries, apple, pear, etc)
- Lettuce, tomato, left over chicken/turkey slices. Sub the mayo with avocado or hummus
- Tuna salad: Made with minimal mayo, spice it up with some dried dill and garlic, get crazy and add tomato slices and/or a piece of cheese
- Roasted veggies (from last night): A mix of capsicum, zucchini, eggplant (or whatever veggies they like) sliced, thrown on a baking sheet, brushed lightly with olive oil and spices - voila!
- Wholegrain or wholemeal tortilla/flat bread
- Add a base: Hummus, avocado, salsa or mustard are good choices
- Add fillings that include either fresh veggies like lettuce, tomato, shredded carrot, sliced pickles or olives, or cooked/roasted veggies
- Add a meat or 'meat alternative' like beans (legumes) if you're going to burrito style, a sliced hard boiled egg, or the traditional chicken/turkey leftovers
- Make it colourful
- Good thing veggies are multicoloured
- Be a bit fancy
- Cut the sandwich diagonally
- Slice the wrap into 2 inch thick 'pinwheel' slices
- Add a frozen pack (or even a small frozen water bottle) to the lunchbox to keep items chilled
- Low fat/non fat yoghurt
- Sliced cheese
- Fruit
- Hard boiled egg
- Popcorn (plain is best, or for extra flavour add some dried herbs)
- Granola (homemade is best because it'll be lower in sugar, salt and fat)
- Celery with cottage cheese or peanut butter spread in the crevice
'Sometimes foods' like the individually wrapped bags of chips, a homemade cookie or muffin are definitely acceptable a couple of times a week. In many ways, this is also a 'teachable moment' because you're demonstrating healthy moderation and portion control, rather than imposing impossible restrictions.
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