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It has been requested that I post a blog about lunch box ideas, so here I go.  I hate to see kids lunch boxes full of sugar…jellies, chips, chocolates and biscuits.  I feel for the poor teachers who have to deal with 30 kids but having half of them on a sugar high and that’s just not fair for the teacher or the students.  Now I’m not a stick in the mud, I pack a dessert in each of my kids lunch boxes (& my husbands) every day but it’s only small.  Below are four sections outlining what I pack to keep the kids interested in their food and coming home with empty lunch boxes - not because they throw their food in the bin either.  Also, it’s a good idea to pack an ice pack to keep lunches cold and fresh -  especially if their are perishable items in the lunch box.

Healthy Snack
This is a state government initiative to keep the kids fueled up between breakfast and morning tea.  It is a HEALTHY small snack eaten around 10am in the classroom. I give the kids one portion of:

• carrot sticks
• small plum or other small fruit (lychee’s, grapes etc)
• fresh green beans.

Morning Tea
I send my girls to school with two of these items for morning tea.

• tub of yogurt… I’m not a fan of tubs of custard. (don’t forget to send a spoon with that)
• a small container of rice snacks or rice crackers…. I’m also not a fan of high salt, high fat savory “shapes” biscuits and the like.  Rice crackers are a healthier and tasty option.
• Two Sao’s or Vita Weets with butter and Vegemite or Promite.
• Muslie bar but not chocolate covered or even yogurt topped. - have a look at the sugar and fat content, you’ll be shocked!
• Large piece of fruit ie, pear, apple, tub of watermelon etc
• Cheese and crackers
• Celery with peanut butter in it.
• Plastic container of tin fruit if I run out of fresh fruit.(don’t forget to send a fork with that.)
• 3 cheerios with sauce in a little container.

Lunch
I try to use multi grain bread, rye or wholemeal but every now and then we have white bread. I also recommend asking your children if  they wants crusts on or off.  You will save a lot of wastage if you just cut the crusts off rather than letting the children eat only a small portion of the sandwich and throwing the rest out.  Their idea of crusts may be VERY different from your idea.  Also, alternate between standard sandwiches, buns, hot dog rolls and Lebanese bread rolled into wraps.  Even if the filling is the same the variety is what the kids will thrive on. Below are the fillings my kids enjoy:

• Mayo, ham, cheese, carrot, lettuce and olives.
• Tomato sauce, salami, olives.
• Peanut butter and honey.
• Promite or Vegemite and cheese.
• Sausages (when we have left overs) BBQ sauce and cheese.
• Pickles, ham and cheese.

Of course there are so many combinations and possible fillings and I find it easier to grate everything. (capsicum, cucumber, cheese, carrot etc)

Dessert
I put in one of these items…we all like a treat!  However a majority of the times I stick with the one biscuit option.

• one biscuit, not chocolate covered but a plain cookie ie ginger nut, arrowroot etc.
• one small packet of chips every now and then
• small piece of sweet bun ie Boston bun
• a small chocolate.
• 2 or 3  jellybeans
• A popper..this may not sound like a dessert but they are FULL of sugar so my kids get them as a treat every now and then.

I hope this answers the request I received.  If anyone else has a request feel free to contact me and I’ll do my best to answer it.

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