Five tips for a healthy school lunch box
Posted on January 24, 2017
Cooking up new ideas for school lunches can be a challenge, but seasonal produce provides lots of variety for a healthy lunch, says 5+ A Day.
Nutrients are vital in helping children concentrate in class and getting them through the school day. Lunch time is when they refuel to boost energy levels, ready to take on the afternoon.
Filling lunch boxes with pre-packaged food that is often high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, can be the easy option. But picking fresh seasonal produce over ready-made means lunch can provide up to one third of a child’s recommended daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.
To help maintain kids’ energy levels during the day, lunch should consist of a variety of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, good fats and calcium-rich foods. Getting children involved by asking what they would like for lunch will help increase the likelihood of lunch boxes coming home empty.