I often get asked what should go in a healthy lunchbox every day?
Below are just some of the key pointers to remember when packing a healthy lunchbox every day:
Healthy Packed Lunches
A healthy packed lunch should contain:
- At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables
- Meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein (eg chickpeas, hummus, or peanut butter)
- Oily fish, such as salmon, at least once every three weeks
- A starchy food such as bread, pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, or potatoes
- Dairy food (eg milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard)
- Water, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, smoothies
Unhealthy Lunch Box Options
- Snacks such as crisps
- Chocolate-coated biscuits, sweets. Cakes and biscuits are allowed but encourage your child to eat these only as part of a balanced meal, more as a treat
- Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat and sausages should be included only occasionally
I hope this is useful. Check our nutrition section for more handy articles on the subject of healthy lunch boxes. If you have some items you would suggest, do please comment below or let us know on social media @lunchboxworld. You will often find us on instagram.
Or check out the Lunchbox World You Tube channel too as we have lots of quick and easy lunch ideas over there, for all ages too, so grab a cuppa and head on over there for some fresh lunch ideas.
We love hearing from you!
The Lunchbox Lady x
Hayley says
As a schoolteacher, it sometimes horrifies me seeing what foods are in the kids lunch boxes or what is being served by the school. This is a helpful post for parents who aren’t sure how to make their kids’ lunches healthy. Thanks for informing everyone!
caroline says
Thanks Hayley for stopping by and taking the time to comment. If you have any tips or advice you would add, please let me know. Thanks again! Caroline