Pack Lunch Boxes to Build a Healthy, Happy Family

Get the basics right. Plan it right. Skip the sweets and chips isle entirely while shopping. If it is not in the cupboard, it cannot make its way into their lunch boxes. Resist the easy option of packing chocolates, chips and canned fizzy drinks.
The actual lunch box is almost as important as what is in it, you cannot expect your child to eat squashed sandwiches and bruised fruit. Rather invest in a big sturdy plastic lunchbox. Think of quality and no the price when buying these.
Do not forget the liquids. Avoid energy juices and sodas. Rather opt for water or diluted pure fruit juices. In summer, prepare the drinks the night before and place in the freezer without the lid. The following morning remove the drinks from the freezer, replace the lid and wrap it in a tea towel to prevent the condensation of water to prevent the condensed water from making a mess on the school books.
What to pack when trying to include food from all the food groups. And also remember to pack enough food to last the whole day.
Complex carbohydrates.
Opt for whole wheat or log GI bread for your child’s sandwiches. Instead of just sliced bread, vary it with rolls that are perfect for hotdogs. Pita breads are also a fun option and the filling ideas and choices you have are endless. For a healthy snack, include a small bag of air popped popcorn. This you can pop the night before and just keep it in a re-sealable bag.
Fruits
The options with fruits are endless, you can only be limited by your imagination. Bananas have always been a firm favorite, and they also come with their own packaging. Some other easy to eat options include grapes, nectarines, apples and pears. If you cannot get fresh fruit for whatever reason, keep a few packets of dried fruit in the cupboard. Dried mangos and guavas are very tasty and they are quick to eat.
Vegetables.
Veggies are a little bit trickier. These are also usually kept for dinner time, but with a bit of imagination on your side you can get a few servings into their lunch boxes. Add tomato and cucumber to sandwiches, or grate carrots into a bran muffin mixture. If your child enjoys veggies, then simply chop up some carrots into fingers and pop them into the lunchbox with some cherry tomatoes and maybe a bit of cottage cheese for a dip.
Protein and Milk
Yogurt is always a winner. Although the individual tubs can be a bit pricey. Buy the one liter tub and decant into smaller containers, just remember the spoon. A plastic spoon is best as it can be thrown away or lost without worry. Sandwich fillings are a great way of getting in your protein serves. Chicken and cheese, or ham and tomato are tasty options. To get in a mils serve, make a yogurt smoothie by mixing mils and yogurt. Just place this in a suitable juice bottle and let freeze overnight.
Fat
Peanut butter and jam sandwiches are always a hit with children. Just check with the school if they are allowed. Some schools are restricting foods that contains peanuts, because of the large amount of children with peanut allergies. For the more experimental eaters, do an avocado on a sandwich with a bit of chicken and lettuce. Sandwich spread is another option that children enjoy.
Use these great tips to pack healthy lunch boxes in order to build a healthy happy family.