TIPS AND TRICKS FOR LUNCHBOX SUCCESS

SCHOOL IS BACK WHICH MEANS SO IS THE SCHOOL LUNCHBOX! SUSIE BURRELL SHARES WITH US HER TOP TIPS FOR MAKING SIMPLE, HEALTHY LUNCHBOXES THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK.

At the start of the school year, often the thought of having to head back to daily lunchbox making can strike fear into the hearts of families across the nation, but with these top tips, you can change a lunchbox nightmare into a lunchbox daydream.

1. Swapping staples such as white bread, snack bars and high sugar fruit drinks for more nutritious options including wholemeal bread, wholegrain snack bars and low sugar drink options like a low-sugar Golden Circle Refresher drink as an occasional treat, makes for a more balanced nutritious lunchbox, whilst being something kids can get excited about.

2. One of the easiest ways to make any lunchbox more appealing is to mix up as many shapes and colours as you can – think brightly coloured veg sticks, chopped fruit, cubes of cheese, sandwiches cut into different shapes and a couple of different snacks rather than whole packets.

3. Getting children involved with their lunchbox, by asking them to pick a special inclusion each week, or to choose their weekly fruit or snack of choice will help to create lunches that are not only healthier but also more likely to be eaten.

4. Get your little ones excited about lunch by decorating and customising their lunchbox with stickers and art. Better yet, get them to design their own lunch box! The coolest and most exciting lunchbox they can think of! Does it have an esky compartment? Does it have wheels and is it remote control operated? Now describe it in 25 words or less at goldencircle. com.au/lunchboxcompetition for your chance to get it made in real life!

5. One of the most budget friendly snack options is home baking – try making a batch of fruit mini muffins or banana bread every few weeks and freeze so you always have a yummy, nutritious, budget friendly lunchbox snack ready to go.

6. Follow the simple lunchbox formula of a wholegrain sandwich or wrap; a whole piece or cut-up fruit such as an apple or pineapple pieces - fresh of canned in juice; a vegetable - whole or cut-up like carrot sticks or cherry tomatoes, and a dairy option such as a yoghurt, and you will always be on the right track with a tasty and nutritionally balanced lunchbox.

Keep everything cool with a cold brick or frozen water bottle in an insulated lunchbag so that everything stays fresh and appealing by lunchtime.

By Susie Burrell, Dietitian and media commentator