Lunchboxes are a pain in the backside aren’t they. Not just because you have to peel out sticky, yoghurt coated pieces of rubbish and mouldy tangerine peel at the end of each day but also because filling them can be a daily struggle. Fussy little eaters, confusing and ever-changing nutritional standards and tight purse strings can make filling a lunchbox a bit of a minefield.
To top it off, my boy hates sandwiches. Sure, I could stand my ground and insist he eats a good and filling sandwich each day but we all know the lunchbox would return home untouched or he would have swapped said sandwich for someone’s Monster Munch. Like any parent, I want to be sure he eats a healthy and filling lunch each day so I hold my hands up and admit that yes, I pander to him.
After many years of lunchbox packing, I have gotten used to creating sandwich-less boxes of goodness for him. I tend to plan ahead but often I will just use up basics from my cupboards such as fruit loaf or cheese and crackers. Once a week I will bake a batch of something lunchboxey (not a word) such as cheese & ham muffins or homemade healthy sausage rolls but if I’m having an off week it can be a nightmare doing all that preparation.
This is what a week in his lunchbox typically looks like at the moment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewy3qOPSrMw
It may be about to change however as this week, I am working with Flora on the #FloraLunchboxChallenge. Reading their latest study has surprised me a bit.
Did you know that only 1.6% of children in the UK are receiving a lunchbox that meets the nutritional standards set for school meals?
1.6%?! I’m surprised by how low that number is. So if 98.4% of us are getting it so wrong, what exactly is it that should be going into our children’s tummies at lunch time?
The NHS website states that
A balanced packed lunch should contain:
- starchy foods – these are bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and others
- protein foods – including meat, fish, eggs, beans and others
- a dairy item – this could be cheese or a yoghurt
- vegetables or salad and a portion of fruit
Starchy foods are a good source of energy and should make up a third of the lunchbox. But don’t let things get boring.
Instead of sandwiches, give kids bagels, pitta bread, wraps and baguettes. Use brown, wholemeal or seeded bread, not white bread.
Good news for sandwich haters then!
Flora are working with parents to change this quite frankly pathetic 1.6% statistic and as someone who has been using and enjoying Flora Light for years, I was pleased to get involved. Not only do they have tons of easy lunch recipes for you to try out on their website but they have also produced a handy lunchbox builder to help you plan it all out.
I’m a bit taken with this meal planner as it takes the hard work of planning the lunch box out of my hands. I was also impressed with the woman’s en pointe Mum bun but that’s by the by.
To say I was impressed with the meal planner is a tad bit misleading because I actually just gave it to Zak to choose his own lunch menu. I was safe in the knowledge that he would only be choosing from healthy options and he was suitably impressed about the level of lunch control he had suddenly been handed. Win win.
He decided on a wholemeal pasta salad with veggies and sliced turkey (we had run out of tuna!). It took me all of ten minutes to prepare the night before school and he scoffed the lot. Result! You can watch me making it here if you want to see how easy it really is.
If you are struggling to think up decent lunchbox ideas then I’d suggest you head on over to the Flora website where they have a ton of hassle free recipes and ideas for lunchboxes. I’m going to be trying out lots of the recipes myself over the coming weeks so head on over to my YouTube channel for weekly inspiration or just to check on how we are doing keeping it healthy.
What do you put in your child’s lunchbox? Do you have any favourite recipes to share? Let me know in the comments box below as always.
xxx
This post is an entry for the #FloraLunchbox Linky Challenge, sponsored by Flora. Check out their lunch planner and recipe ideas here
This is great Fi, well done for getting on the Flora Lunchbox Challenge. Zak’s lunches look so healthy now, and it’s great that he enjoyed it and got to choose it too. Putting him in control. I’m really impressed with the Flora meal planner here too, there are some interesting options here giving me some inspiration on what to feed my daughter. Here’s to a great week at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
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Thanks Claire! It’s a fab planner isn’t it. I’ve really had some good ideas from it and stopped my packed lunch rut for a while longer! X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
Oh my god, you have answered my prayers with this post! I recently took my son out of full time nursery and into a pre school with a childminder for wrap around care. I put him into the school lunch club and I’m now in the world of what the hell do you put in their packed lunch boxes! Pleased to see that I think i’m in the 1.6% but after only 2 weeks was struggling to add variety. Thanks so much I’ll be heading over to the Flora Website for some more inspiration #fortheloveofBLOG
Mum-Work-Repeat recently posted…90 Day SSS Plan – Cycle One Complete!
Oh that’s fab to hear the post is useful for you! Packed lunches can get quite repetitive can’t they?! X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Meal Planning & Budgeting
I have a fussy eater too, but he does eat at college as they have a great Refectory, goodness knows what he eats, but I am just glad he does eat, as he is choosing what he wants, he tells me its usually a sandwich, he takes a big 2 litre bottle of water with him and does drink a lot of water at home too and he takes Vitamins (most days) My nightmare is feeding him a healthy and enjoyable dinner at home! My eldest is now a vegan and he looks after himself so Im left to cook for two, but he loves bland & I love interesting and spicy! nightmare #fortheloveofBLOG
Flying Solo recently posted…My September Challenges ( Getting Organised & Ready For Christmas)
It can be so difficult catering to so many different tastes can’t it?! Thanks for reading
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word. Bitch Is.
Oh this looks so yummy! Alfie isn’t at the age where he needs a lunchbox at nursery yet, but I certainly get bored of my own lunches at work and these are some fab ideas! #fortheloveofBLOG
Something About Baby recently posted…Baby Got Back…and Moved!
Wow! I’m failing on the protein and dairy for 2 of them. The vegetarian is having humus, so I guess that’s winning for one of them…#FortheloveofBLOG
Lydia C. Lee recently posted…First of the Month Fiction – October
I love hummus! So easy to make your own too if you blitz up chickpeas with a squeeze of lemon x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
Looking at the healthy lunchbox requirements, I’m actually surprised to see that I’m pretty much getting it right for Baby Lighty’s childminder lunchbox twice a week! I think I probably need to add more vegetables though, so I’m definitely going to check out Flora for some ideas. Thanks for sharing with #fortheloveofBLOG.
Mrs Lighty recently posted…The Fakeiversary
That’s great! It’s hard to get it right so you should class that as a big fat Mum win
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…My Darling Memory Round-Up Week 8
This is so important to get right. Instilling good food habits in children from a young age can only be a positive thing.
#fortheloveofBLOG
The Tale of Mummyhood recently posted…SAHM vs. Working Mum
Definitely! So important to try to set up good eating habits early on x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
Piglet isn’t at school – but I make JHogg a packed lunch for work every day. He is seriously fussy so I might just have to look at this for him. He’s probably got the same mental age as a school age child 😉 #fortheloveofBLOG
OddHogg recently posted…Autumn Bucket List
Haha oh it’s bad enough being responsible for little people’s nutrition! I’d let him fend for himself and enjoy the lunch boxless years
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…10 Things Bloggers Love About Autumn
I quite like the look of this myself! I wouldn’t have expected the figure to be high, but not that low. It must be so hard with a fussy eater to just get them to eat SOMETHING! #fortheloveofblog
Claire recently posted…It’s ok… #mumguilt 009 featuring Bump & Blush
Oh God it is! I can understand why it’s so low a figure if people have fussy eaters. It can be a nightmare but this little planner is handy x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Win Tickets To The Baby And Toddler Show
I will admit this past year our diets have plunged. I feel quite guilty about it. With the twins entering toddler years, sports taking over our lives and a workoholic husband I have totally slipped on the meals…lunches included. I need to make some changes over here.
#fortheloveofblog
kristin mccarthy recently posted…The Stupidest Question In The World
Don’t beat yourself up! It’s really hard work keeping on top of everything and sometimes an ok meal is just fine xx
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…For The Love Of BLOG #19
I’ve been loving all of the Flora lunchbox challenge posts this week, I’m actually really gutted that my daughter has school dinners!! We’ve been saving some of these ideas for our lunch at home! #fortheloveofblog
five little doves recently posted…And then there were two…..
Oh just be glad! I’d LOVE Zak to have school dinners but the fussy little thing wouldn’t eat a thing X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
Some great tips. We tend to do the same food so it is always good to do something different #fortheloveofBLOG
Busy Working Mummy recently posted…The Toddler Diaries – Chapter 1
Hope you get some inspiration from it – I know I did
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Meal Planning & Budgeting
My daughter is also not a fan of bread. Where we are in Switzerland all the children come home for lunch but this is still a great idea. I’m going to try it out. Thanks for the inspiration! #fortheloveofBLOG
Kate recently posted…Giggle Parenting Inspiration – Unauthorised Special Time
Interesting! That must be difficult for working parents?! How do they manage lunch breaks? X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Meal Planning & Budgeting
Fiona this brings back nightmares of packing lunchboxes. I was so glad when mine finally got to secondary school with a canteen doing all the hard work for lunch. Some great ideas here. #fortheloveofBLOG
Jo (Mother of Teenagers) recently posted…The Wonders Of The Barre!
Anything with pasta is a winner in our house. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.
Lunchbox filling is tough, I feel like my daughter eats the same all the time. She enjoys fruit which helps, and yogurt always goes down well but I am guilty of the endless sandwich offerings! hahaha… great post, its got me thinking. #fortheloveofBLOG
Twin Pickle recently posted…Whiplash – Knowing when to break your kid’s balls.
I really like the meal planner chart. Great to let your son choose his own things off the chart too. My son’s on school lunches at the moment, but I worry he doesn’t eat them and goes hungry all day. Good to know about this resource if I decide to start packing. #fortheloveofBLOG
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I’d worry about the same thing with school dinners but hopefully the dinner ladies will make sure the kids eat something? X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…10 Things Bloggers Love About Autumn
I’m sure it’s all too easy to fall into a boring lunch box pit of despair! Some great ideas here #fortheloveofBLOG
Andrea @ Topsy Turvy Tribe recently posted…The Boy That Never Slept Through
It’s just another one of those monotonous chores isn’t it! Thanks for commenting x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
I hate making packed lunches with a passion! When I have to it’s filed with good nutritional stuff, but I still hate making them. Over here in France, it’s all about school lunches – three courses and an afternoon snack p that’s the way to do it! #fortheloveofBLOG
That most definitely sounds like the way forwards!!
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…10 Things Bloggers Love About Autumn
Such a yummy lunch idea. We’re doing the challenge as well, it’s been an eye opener. L is a sandwich fiend, but only if it is a jam sarnie. Honestly if he had his way that’s all he would eat. He’d love the pasta you made though. #fortheloveofBLOG
Oh fab to hear you’re joining in with this too I have to say I’m quite partial to a ham sandwich myself hehe x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Dear Diary – A Summer Holiday Round-Up
Oh I do love a good challenge. #fortheloveofBLOG
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Thanks for reading and commenting
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
These are awesome lunches and i love the variety shown! Thanks! #fortheloveofBLOG
Jen recently posted…My Kids Hate Cut & Paste. Notebooking Pages to the Rescue!
It’s great to see so many different ideas for lunchboxes. We don’t really make them as my daughter uses the free school meals in school at the moment but I’m quite lucky that she’s not very fussy when it comes to lunch time foods. #fortheloveofblog
The school meals are a great initiative aren’t they! X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Dear Diary – A Summer Holiday Round-Up
I don’t have to deal with lunch boxes yet but I love this idea. TBH it would even work as a way of getting kids to choose their own meals at home. Great idea because, you’re right, that stat is terrible! Hope you success with the planner continues. #fortheloveofBLOG
Angela Watling recently posted…My first month with a Bullet Journal
I find the kids are so much more receptive to eating new foods if they’ve had a hand in choosing or making it. Contrary little beasts haha x
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…Meal Planning & Budgeting
Love the idea of the meal planner, that’s great. My daughter adores bread so sandwiches are her favourite but I struggle to come up with exciting fillings other than tuna or cheese. Poor child!
#fortheloveofBLOG
Tuna is yummy though! I love it with a dash of vinegar – is that really weird?!
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Ambition Series: Meet Emma, AKA The Brummy Mummy Of 2
Great idea. Max gets free school lunches at the moment so I don’t have to worry about making his lunch. Evie has to take lunch on her two preschool days but she is quite fussy so it always ends up being the same things! x #fortheloveofBLOG
Emma Plus Three recently posted…Lost My Name Book | Review & Giveaway
It’s really easy to feed them the same thing once you find something they love isn’t it?! X
A Mum Track Mind recently posted…The Flora Lunchbox Challenge with A Mum Track Mind
Gosh! I can’t believe how pitiful that statistic is! I love this, you had me almost giving myself whiplash as I nodded my head violently to your opening paragraph about lunchboxes being a pain in the backside!! They are!!!!!!!!!!!!! They drive me absolutely mad! If I ever get them home before they can walk home themselves…Rather than storing up a minecraft style building worth of Emily’s packed lunch boxes at school.
The flora packed lunch making thingy is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
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Our school have a finally got hot school lunches available and my younger 2 had them for free for the second part of the summer term being in KS1. I cannot believe the amount of what I would call ‘crap food’ on offer with pizza at least once a week and a sweet pudding like chocolate browny or jam sponge every day. I believe my lunch boxes were far more healthy and have gone back to them. Like you though, I can’t believe so few parents get lunch boxes right- it’s really not that hard!! Hopefully this will help parents get the balance right and we’ll have more healthy kids! #fortheloveofBLOG
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That app looks great! I bet Zak is loving choosing his own lunches. I’ve always just gone for the nursery lunch option because I thought it would be easier than a packed lunch but maybe it’s time I gave it a go! xx #fortheloveofblog
It’s so hard trying to pick something healthy that they will enjoy everyday.The pasta salad looks amazing #fortheloveofBLOG
Great tips – I love the Flora lunchbox planner as it helps me decide how to put a healthy lunchbox together for LP who is very picky when it comes to vegetables and salad. He also hates tuna!
#FloraLunchboxChallenge