Children's Lunch Box Ideas

One of the most memorable things about school days is your lunch box. A packet of love, given to you as you left the house each day, by your Mum or Dad.

 

So, what makes the perfect Lunch Box? Here are our tips and ideas for making your child’s lunch the best it can be.

1. A really nice sarnie is something we do really well in the UK. Have a chat with your child and make a note of the fillings they like. If you can, use a wholemeal or granary bread, they’re much healthier. On some days use a flat-bread, pitta, sourdough or ciabatta – mix it up!
2. If you are using a spread or butter, make sure its spread right to the edge of the slice. Children are more likely to eat ALL the bread if it’s all buttered. It also keeps the bread from getting soggy from the juice of tomatoes, cucumber or other veg fillings that accompany a meat, cheese, tuna, or other fillings.
3. Make a pot of small fruit or raw vegetables that they can finger-pick and eat.
4. A whole industry has grown up around dried fruits and nuts. These provide great fibre and energy, so include a small selection of these. My kids loved mango, banana chips and pineapple.
5. In the colder months you can add a thermos and fill it with soup, or cut-up sausage in tomato sauce, perhaps a few ladles from a casserole you had the night before?
6. Water is always the best to include as a drink, but you can freeze a carton of juice, which will keeps the food in the lunch box fresh, and this will have melted by lunch time offering a thirst quenching slush! 
7. A “naughty” treat is always great and it does not have to be BIG! Just a single “Hero” chocolate or “Roses” is ample, it just gives a small taste of sweetness.
8. Fresh Fruit – not just an apple a day, but a hand full of strawberries (in season) a kiwi, a slice of fresh pineapple or melon, are all great ways to change things up!
9. Not edible – but a little note of love from you will bring a smile to their face and let them know you’re are thinking of them.

 

 

 

At Simply School Uniform we have a great selection of lunch boxes and carry lunch bags that kids love.

Did You Know

Did you know that there is a National Child Measurement Program? It’s a national program where by your child will be weighed in reception (age 4-5) and again at year 6 (age 10-11). This helps the NHS, you, and your child understand whether they are in a healthy weight range. Why is this important?  It allows you to know if they are underweight, or over-weight, for their height, age and gender. It also lets the government to understand the health of the nation’s children and helps the NHS tailor services to those children who are not in a healthy weight range.

Through this scheme it has been revealed that 1 in 5 children in reception are overweight, and that this is rising to 1 in 3 by the time they reach year 6. Why should we worry about this? If a child is at a healthy weight range now, they are more likely to maintain a healthy weight as an adult, which leads to less weight related illnesses later in life.

How can you help your child maintain a healthy weight?

Encourage them to participate in a sporting activity or after school club so they burn off as much energy as they can and have a reasonable level of fitness.. Have a chat and see if there’s anything in particular they’d like to try: Ballet, Judo, Climbing, Swimming, Rowing, or Cheerleading, are just a few, there are many more activities to experience. There's a great list here to browse through, with contact details for each sport.

Try to maintain a healthy and varied diet at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but most of all cut-out sugary treats, crisps and heavily sugared fizzy drinks, these encourage illnesses such as diabetes, and heart conditions later in life.

Love the lunch box!