Cherrytree Nursery School Ashford

Lunch ideas

Are you trying to think of new ideas for a packed lunch? We understand that you want to choose things your child likes, so you know they have eaten something, but it is all too easy to fall into the habit of a jam sandwich, chocolate biscuits and a sweet drink. These are all high in sugar, are unhealthy (high fat content and additives) and can cause tooth decay.

This page is designed to help you make healthy choices and is based on the Governments guidelines for healthy eating in Schools, effective September 2007. We have given you a few ideas – no doubt you have some of your own that you could add to the list!

Choice is good, but with too many different foods in a packed lunch, it is very tempting to ignore the sandwiches for something which seems more interesting.

Young children prefer things cut or divided into small portions – a whole apple can be overwhelming for a 3 year old. Cut it into 4 or 6 pieces, it is more likely to be eaten and enjoyed.

Try a sandwich, drink, one (or two) from the ‘nibbles’ list and some fruit.






		Sandwiches

There are lots of different ways you can make a sandwich a bit more interesting and exciting. Try varying the bread. Try wholemeal or multigrain, bread rolls, tortilla wraps or pitta for a change. Rice or corn cakes can also make a good alternative.

Salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber), can be added to many sandwich fillings to add variety and help towards your 5-a-day!

Nibbles

Dried fruit – raisins, sultanas, apricots
Small chunks of cheese – Cheesestrings or Babybel
Cocktail size sausages
Crabsticks
Boiled egg
Breadsticks (mini size, with no added salt)
Rice or corn cakes (mini size, unsweetened)
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber chunks
Carrot or celery sticks
Sliced peppers
Creamed rice
Plain yoghurt, with your own finely chopped fruit or 1 teaspoon of jam added if wished (some commercial fruit varieties of yoghurt have as much as 5 teaspoons of sugar per pot)






	Try to provide a healthy packed lunch, as this will teach your child healthy eating habits from the start. If you would like further information on healthy eating, please see the Food Standards Agency website at: www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet




		Filling Ideas Ham Cheese Tuna Egg Chicken Pate Banana Marmite Bacon Cottage cheese Peanut butter



	Fruit Cut fruit can be wrapped in a twist of cling film. Try putting one or two portions of fruit in your childs lunch box. Apple/pear – sliced Orange/Satsuma – in segments Grapes – seedless Banana – small one


	“Give your child a better start”

		©2011 Cherrytree Nursery School Ltd