Healthy Lunch Boxes
We believe eating well is important for children’s health and development.
A healthy, enjoyable lunch gives children the energy they need to learn, play and do well at nursery.
Recently published statistics reveal that 1 in 12 local children entering Reception Year are obese, and by Year Six, this rises to 1 child in 5.
Because of this, we are working towards teaching the children about a healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy eating and would appreciate your help.
Good Habits Start Young!
We are actively discouraging children bringing:
- Crisps and other savoury snacks
- Pastry products such as sausage rolls or pastries
- Chocolate or chocolate covered bars
- Cakes, biscuits and cookies
- Fizzy drinks
- Sweets
For the health and safety of our children, we DO NOT allow the following in our nursery:
- Glass bottles or ring pull cans
- Flasks (with hot or cold contents)
- Swapping food (due to allergies)
- Nuts (due to allergies and choking risk)
Some practical tips:
- If you make up a lunch box the night before, store it in the fridge
- Vary the sort of bread you use - cut wholemeal pitta bread into strips to have with dip
- Cold cooked pasta can easily be turned into a pasta salad. Remember to store in the fridge!
- Put some salad in a small bag or tub.
- Encourage your child to help prepare their lunch - children are more likely to eat something they have helped with!
What shall I put in my child’s lunch box?
A good variety of foods that fit into different food groups will help your child to eat a balanced lunch providing the energy they need to enjoy nursery.
Ideally, a healthy lunchbox will contain one item from each of the food groups: carbohydrate; fruit/vegetable; meat/fish or alternative; and dairy.
Remember, a portion is the amount that will fit into a child’s cupped hand.
Carbohydrate foods
Foods like bread, pasta, rice, chapatti or couscous. A sandwich or some cooked rice would be good choices from this food group. Foods in this group are versatile and healthy with -
Meat, fish or alternatives
Cold meat, tinned fish, boiled egg or houmous are good options to put in sandwiches or have with pasta plus -
Dairy products
Dairy foods are particularly important for growing children as they are a good source of calcium, needed for bone development and teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yoghurt and -
Fruit and vegetables
It is important we all eat lots of variety from this group - at least 5 portions a day. Aim to include two portions; a child’s portion might be the amount of food that would fit into your child’s hand.
Fatty and sugary foods or drinks
Try and avoid including items from this group – a small amount will be hidden in foods for example the margarine, mayonnaise on a sandwich or added sugar in a fruit yoghurt.
- Ham sandwich, small bag of salad (tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion and salad leaves) fruit yoghurt and a banana
- Cold cooked pasta mixed with tinned tuna, sweetcorn, grated carrot and baby spinach. An apple and a cheese slice
- Cold couscous and chicken pieces (include some cooked vegetables or salad) small box of raisins and a fruit yoghurt
- Cooked meat and chapattis with a yoghurt dip, onion and cucumber rathia. Slice of melon
- Cheese and pickle sandwich, cherry tomatoes and small tub of tinned pineapple chunks
- Potted meat sandwich, small tub of salad (tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion and salad leaves) small carton of milk and a pear
- A cold slice of pizza, carrot, celery and cucumber cut into sticks with a hummus dip. Dried apricots and a yoghurt
