Children are encouraged to bring a healthy packed lunch in a named lunch box or bag.  Whilst it is the parents/carers choice as to what they put in their children’s lunch box, we do encourage a healthy mix and we do not allow children to eat sweets, full-sized chocolate bars or drink fizzy drinks as part of their lunch. 

Getting ideas and inspiration for what to include in your child’s lunchbox can be a difficult task.  Healthy eating is simply about getting a better balance and eating a wide variety of foods.  All foods provide energy and nutrients and it is achieving the correct intake of those nutrients that are important for health.  Variety is the key to a healthy diet, so try not to offer the same foods on consecutive days.  By including a broad range of different foods, a much wider variety of nutrients will be eaten.  The ‘Healthier Lunchbox Checklist’ helps to explain what ‘a healthy mix’ means in terms of getting a well-balanced meal in a lunchbox.

Healthier Lunchbox Checklist:

• A good portion of starchy food: e.g. thick wholemeal bread, chapatti, pitta pocket, pasta or rice salad?
• Plenty of fruit and vegetables: e.g. an apple, a satsuma, handful of cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks, mini-can of fruit chunks or a small box of raisins?
• A portion of milk or dairy food: e.g. individual cheese portion or pot of yoghurt?
• A portion of lean meat, fish or alternative: e.g. ham, chicken, beef, tuna, egg, hummus or bean/lentil salad?
• A drink: e.g fruit juice, milk or water.