Healthy Lunchboxes
What children eat during their day at school plays a crucial role in their learning and development. Ambrose encourages families to create healthy and enjoyable lunchboxes.
What to Pack
Here are some examples of healthy items to include in your child’s lunchbox.
Fruit & Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables will provide a good daily source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. All chopped fruit and vegetables can be easily packed into small containers for the lunchbox, making them quick and easy to eat.
- Fresh fruit like apple, pear, strawberries, cucumber, carrot, celery sticks, green beans
Breads & Cereals
Bread, grains and cereal foods provide important nutrients and energy for busy, growing children. Wholegrain or wholemeal varieties are the best choices.
- Sandwiches, crackers, pasta, wraps, rice
Meat & other Protein Foods
Meat and other protein foods provide protein and iron. Limit the use of sausages and processed luncheon/deli meats (eg devon and salami) as they are high in saturated fat and salt.
- Cold roast beef, lamb, pork, chicken, baked beans, hardboiled egg
Dairy Food
Dairy foods, such as milk, yoghurt, custard and cheese are an important source of protein and calcium. Reduced fat milk and dairy foods (approx. 2% fat) are suitable for most children over 2 years of age.
- Cheese slice, yoghurt, custard, plain milk
Water
Water is the best thirst quencher and the best choice of drink for every lunchbox. Tap water is safe so you do not need to buy bottled water.
Do Not Pack
Leave out snack foods and drinks that are high in added sugar, saturated fat or salt.
Such as:
- lollies, chocolates, jelly cups
- cakes, doughnuts, sweet muffins
- plain sweet/cream-filled biscuits
- muesli /cereal bars
- fruit bars and fruit straps
- potato chips
- corn chips
- cheesy balls, twists
- small oven-baked savoury biscuits
- devon and salami
- cordial and soft drink
- fruit juice
- flavoured mineral water
- fruit juice drinks
- sports drinks
For further information on healthy eating we encourage families to check out the following links.
Healthy Kids NSW Munch and Move Fact Sheet. Click here
The Australian guide to healthy eating is a food selection guide which visually represents the proportion of the five food groups recommended for consumption each day. Click here
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Healthy Lunchboxes
What children eat during their day at school plays a crucial role in their learning and development. Ambrose encourages families to create healthy and enjoyable lunchboxes.
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