YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Spring 2018 | Page 10

ALEXANDRA PARKER, APD AND ANNA-JANE DEBENHAM, APD
Co-founders of The Biting Truth, Alex and Anna are Accredited Practising
Dietitians and also the authors of eBook, The School Lunchbox: Everything
You Need to Know. Learn more at www.thebitingtruth.com
HOW TO PACK A
HEALTHY LUNCHBOX
Take the stress out of lunchbox packing with these nutrition
tips from co-founders of The Biting Truth.
ou’ve probably been inundated
with
advice
to
create
lunchboxes that are ‘nude’ –
free from potential allergens, and healthy
–  while also trying to make them taste
good! On top of this you’re probably
aware that childhood obesity is at an all
time high and what kids eat at school is
a significant contributor to this. Our
philosophy around food for kids is all
about inclusion (not exclusion). We
believe in eating healthy most of the
time, but that it is also perfectly okay to
include a few treats in the lunchbox
every now and then. We do not believe
any foods should be off limits, which is a
really important message to send to
young children who are in the process of
developing their food and eating habits.
Y
Building a healthy lunchbox that your
child will actually eat is no small feat,
especially when you might be packing
up to 200 lunchboxes each year (and
that’s just for one child). So here are
some quick and simple lunchbox tips
and tricks to help keep you sane and
your kids healthy, for the rest of the year!
1. Little hands need little serves
and containers
You may be familiar with the range of
bento style lunchboxes that have slowly
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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SPRING 2018
been making their way into the market.
Packing
school
lunches
into
compartmentalised lunchboxes or in an
assortment of little containers can make
it easier for children as they can choose
to eat one thing at a time. Using
compartmentalised lunchboxes and
containers will also help you to cut down
on packaging and prevent the food from
being squished. Primary school kids
typically have smaller tummies, so
smaller meals and snacks that are
packed with nutrition are ideal choices.
Kids also love bite-sized foods, so try
and keep things small and tidy to make
it as easy as possible for them.
2. Get your kids involved
Ask your child to list their top 10
sandwich fillings. This will help you if
you are stuck one morning and need to
make something in a hurry. Always try
and have a variety of fruit and vegetables
available at home and let them pick
which ones they would like included in
their lunchbox. This way they have been
involved in the decision-making process
and are more likely to eat what’s
provided. Life is busy so try to make the
most of any spare time to get prepared
– boil eggs, chop up veggies, make bliss
balls beforehand – this will help reduce