Back to School: Parents need to think out of the (lunch) box

SOME children can be picky when it comes to snacks.

They will throw away food you pack for them if they simply don’t want to eat it. Sometimes they will even trade lunchbox contents with their classmates.

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The first thing a parent must consider is their child’s personal tastes. It is always a good idea to involve your little ones in preparing their lunch boxes. Lunch box food need not be boring and repetitive. Healthy snacks need not be unappetising, either.

There are ways to make sure your child is eating correctly during breaks, giving him enough energy to last throughout the rigorous school day.

• Usually, breaks at school last only 15 to 20 minutes and are filled with distractions. Make sure that the food you pack is easily unwrapped and doesn’t require peeling.
• Always think about hygiene and food safety. Make sure that fruit and cookies are in ziplocked containers to retain freshness. Juice boxes or ice packs can be frozen and placed in the lunch box. The juice will have thawed by break time but will still be cold.
• You can pack the same thing every day if your child prefers the same food, as long as the meal is nutritious. Most youngsters don’t like a lot of big changes in their diet. Studies have shown that it usually takes about 10 to 12 introductions to new food before a child is willing even to taste it.
• Instead of packing one big sandwich or whole fruit, think about giving your child several choices of individually packed smaller portions. You can pack pieces of fruit, small cookies or jam sandwiches wrapped in foil. Small foods are not only easier to consume – children also think they’re fun to eat.
• You can be creative and make your own snack mix. Children love to eat crunchy, sweet or savoury snacks. An example of a good snack mix will include unsalted nuts, raisins, savoury biscuits and pretzels.
• Different types of bread will make interesting sandwiches. You can also try mini waffles, rice cakes, mini croissants and other small but nutritious snacks. Cereal or health bars are also a great addition to the daily lunch box.

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