Credit: https://www.taste.com.au/articles/healthy-lunch-box-does-look-like/uuypkq1m
As kids around Logan head back to school this week, Metro Health South paediatric dietitian nutritionist Jessica Darmenia is offering advice for healthy back to school lunches.
“Healthy lunch boxes help children develop lifelong healthy eating habits and can help children develop an understanding of the importance of eating a variety of whole foods,” she says.
“Including children in preparing a healthy lunchbox can help to teach them about the relationships between food, growth and development and how to make appropriate food choices.”
Jessica says it’s important for lunchboxes to include foods from all the key food groups, fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, grains or cereals and meats or alternatives, as well as a bottle of cold water.
“Regular intake of high energy and sugar foods can lead to weight gain and may lead to future oral health problems such as tooth decay and poor attention span or reduced concentration levels throughout the day,” she says.
“Cut up fresh fruit to make it easier for children to eat, include fresh vegetable sticks (carrots, capsicum, cucumber) with a dip of choice, use wholegrain or wholemeal breads or wraps and use lean meats in sandwiches such as chicken strips or tuna to avoid processed meats.”
She says it was also important to keep lunch boxes cool throughout hot school days by using an insulated lunch box or lunch bag with a freezer pack with a freezer brick or frozen bottle of water.
