How to pack a lunchbox that your kids will actually eat

For children (and parents too) going back to school can be an interesting time of year as families resume or create new routines to stay organised throughout the year. Luckily, this guide is here to help. We’ll take you through our top tips for creating a lunchbox that kids will actually eat.  
 

Tip #1 – Get them involved  

Sometimes fussy eaters just won’t be happy with any food you select for them, especially when they’re away at school for the day. It is a great idea to take your children shopping with you at least once to encourage them to find and select healthy foods that they will like. The more that your fussy eater is involved with food preparation, the more likely they are to give something a try. If your children are old enough, encourage them to learn how to read food labels, and task them with finding 5-10 healthy lunchbox options on your next shop. You can do this in your online shop as well if going there in person isn’t in the cards. 
 

Tip #2 – No more soggy sandwiches 

The sandwich has been the staple in many lunchboxes since the dawn of time. Apart from the type of filling, the most common complaint would be the sandwich bread becoming soggy. Yuck! But, there is a smart way around that! Scoop or dig a little ‘well’ in the roll, use a healthy fat (such as Margarine made from mostly healthy fats such as olive or canola oil) as a waterproof barrier, and then put all the sandwich fillings in, then seal with paper or foil for the day. Another method is to use wraps (wholegrain preferably) to hold your sandwich fillings, then fold them into a triangle and toast them in a sandwich press (or similar) to seal them and hold their shape. 
 

Tip #3 – Include a rainbow of fruit and veg 

Buying fresh fruit & vegetables that are in season can be the most cost effective. Not only will you save some money, but you can slowly expose your children to new foods.. Just keep in mind if the new food does not appeal to them right away, to not write off that food forever. It takes children (especially very fussy ones) at least 10-15 times to try the same food, for them to figure out if they like it or not, and even then, you can try the same food again later in the year, as their tastebuds change. Make it exciting and fun, encourage them to ‘eat the rainbow’ offering a variety of fruit and vegetables with different textures and colours.  

Tip #4 – Utilise your freezer 

Use freeze-ahead lunchbox ideas to stay ahead of the game this school year. Think 
biscuits, muffins, fritters, and slices. This helps to add more variety to what you can offer without spending too much time in the morning preparing. Most recipes, if not all, can be frozen ahead of time. Pull a portion out of the freezer 48 hours before consumption. Make sure to write the cooking date & the recipe name on the food container to keep track of what you have. 

Tip #5 – Respect your childs hunger cues 

 It is normal to worry if your child is eating enough food throughout the day. This can lead to offering a bigger than required volume of food in a child’s school lunch box. But is important to remember that hunger is a physiological cue and cannot be ignored in most cases – therefore, a person will eat when they are experiencing a degree of hunger. This extends into the family home at places such as the dinner table as well.  Try your best not to put too much pressure on it!