01
Sep
Lunchboxes at the ready! It’s back to school
With the end of summer in sight, it’s time to head back to school!
If the thought of preparing school lunches fills you with dread don’t panic! We’ve compiled a handy bunch of tips and recipe ideas for lunches to keep even the fussiest eaters healthy and happy during the school year.
Healthy and delicious
A few easy inclusions can make your little one’s midday meal balanced and delicious:
- Include starchy foods, such as using wholemeal bread for sandwiches – this will keep them feeling fuller for longer.
- Include a variety of fruit and veg – trying swapping crisps for sticks of carrot or cucumber, which are just as crunchy but far more nutritious. You can browse delicious fruit and vegetables handpicked at Manchester’s Smithfield market in our Best of Local range.
- Include dairy food, such as cheese or a yoghurt – they will help your little one’s get the calcium they need for healthy teeth and bones!
Handy hints
Now you know what to include, the challenge is keeping the kids interested. Here are our top tips:
- Try cutting interesting shapes out of sandwiches: with a simple cookie cutter, you can make star-shaped, heart-shaped, or any-other-shaped sandwiches to surprise your little ones.
- Carve carrots or cucumbers into interesting shapes to make your child’s lunchbox bright and exciting. If you’re not feeling artistic, don’t worry as you can make sticks out of them instead – perfect to dip in cheese or hummus!
- If your child gets bored of bread, then mix things up with wholegrain pasta or wraps.
- If your child has a sweet tooth, give them the best of both worlds with chocolate-dipped fruit instead. Grapes and strawberries are our personal favourites.
- Get kids involved! They are more likely to be enthusiastic about their lunches if they prepared it – our Dough It Yourself pizzas are great for this, and slices can be eaten cold the next day.
