Lunchbox tips
Get your kids involved in preparing and choosing what goes in their lunchbox. They are more likely to eat it if they helped make it.
Choose a variety of foods from each food group: fruit, vegetables, dairy, carbohydrates / wholegrains and lean meat / alternatives.
Yoghurts are often packed with added sugar, and some can contain up to four sugar cubes. If your child enjoys eating yoghurt try making your own. There are lots of flavours to try – visit www.savekidsfromsugar.co.uk (search ‘Yoghurt’).
Cut down on crisps – if your child really likes crisps, try reducing the number of times you include them in their lunchbox and swapping for plain rice cakes instead.
Ice packs help to keep food cool and a thermos flask keeps food warm.
Try to avoid
Sugary food options such as sugary cereals / cereal bars (more than 5g sugar per 100g), energy drinks and foods high in saturated fat eg fried breakfast, pastries and croissants.
Packed lunch images to be inserted here?
Lunchbox ideas
Packed lunch 1
- Tuna, sweetcorn and pepper pasta
- Banana
- 1 heaped tablespoon of raisins
- Carton of semi-skimmed milk
Packed lunch 2
- Egg, cress and cucumber
- seeded roll
- Rice pudding
- Satsuma
- Bottle of water
Packed lunch 3
- Wholemeal bagel with ham and soft cheese
- Handful of cherry tomatoes
- Frozen cherries mixed with
- fromage frais
- Bottle of water
Packed lunch 4
- Chicken, cream cheese and
- grated carrot wrap
- Fruit kebabs
- Sugar-free jelly
- Carton of semi-skimmed milk
Packed lunch 5
- Vegetable and lentil pasta (chopped tomatoes, carrots,
- celery, onion, red lentils, pasta)
- Small tub of grated cheese
- Canned peaches in natural juice
- Low-fat custard
- Bottle of water
Source: Healthy Schools Manchester
Additional information and support
Better Health: Healthier Families
Lunchbox recipes and tips.
Save Kids from Sugar
See how your child’s sugar adds up with the quick and easy sugar check.
