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If you’re desperate for more ideas for healthy school snack ideas and want to get your kids involved, this is the answer to your lunchbox dreams. Just in time for back to school, Cancer Council NSW have launched a brand new website that includes recipes, ideas and tips to create a healthy lunchbox every day for the whole family.
But that’s not all. It also features an incredibly fun and clever interactive lunch box builder that enables parents and their kids to plan a healthy lunch box at home, or on the move with their smartphone or tablet. The Healthy Lunch Box app is so fun, you and your kids will get lost in all the possible combinations of just how yummy a lunchbox can be – perhaps even forgetting how healthy all the options are.
Why it matters
According to Cancer Council NSW, only 7% of NSW children eat enough vegetables and a staggering 22% are overweight or obese.
Kids are already encouraged by us to make healthy food choices and educated along these lines at school, so the foundations have been laid for a healthy lifestyle. This app takes the nagging out of the practical process and puts all of those ideas into a fun, easy and interactive process – we think the results are great!
Cancer Council NSW’s Nutrition Program Manager, Clare Hughes, said parents want quick and easy access to healthy recipes and inspiration on how to vary lunch box content.
“Parents want to ensure they are providing their kids with the energy and nutrients they need to learn and play”
Clare Hughes, Nutrition Program Manager, Cancer Council NSW
“With one child eating about 2,500 lunches throughout their years at school, many parents report that packing lunch boxes can be a chore, especially when it comes to getting kids enthusiastic about healthy options such as fruit and vegetables.”
“Adding fruit and vegetables to the lunch box every day is a simple way to ensure children are getting the vitamins, minerals and fibre they need to fuel concentration in the classroom – and the cancer prevention benefits of eating a healthy and balanced diet are so important too.”
“Parents are sure to find something that appeals to the fussiest of eaters and parents can even use the website as inspiration for their own lunches”
Clare Hughes
7 lunchbox recipe ideas to try
Lentil vegie cups
Packed with plant protein power
Looking for vegie packed alternative to a boring old sandwich? These lentil and vegie cups are dietician-designed and free from nuts and dairy, making them the ideal lunchbox filler kids can munch on the go.
Zucchini fritters with whipped feta
Simple but satisfying
A couple of eggs and three zucchinis go a long way when you turn them into a pile of tasty fritters. Here, Stephanie Conley Buhre shares her recipe for delectable zucchini fritters topped with whipped feta. Trust us, these are a sure-fire lunchbox winner.
High tea sandwiches
Classic for a reason
Nothing quite beats a sandwich in terms of versatility and convenience, but if you’re tired of repeating the exact same fillings, here are three classic sandwich recipes to spark inspiration.
Chocolate cupcakes with hidden vegies
For the fussy eater
Fussy eaters will be none-the-wiser about the considerable vegetable content hidden inside these delicious sweet treats. The first three ingredients are zucchini, carrot and broccoli stalks, which makes the texture of these cupcakes totally moist and moreish.
Better-for-you banana pancakes
Made with wholemeal flour
Fluffy pancakes have been given a makeover by food writer Louise Keats who shows us how to create this delicious breakfast staple using wholemeal flour and kefir milk. Make them in pikelet-sized portions for a lunchbox snack that will be gobbled up in no time.
Heirloom tomato tart
Pack extra to share
Heirloom tomatoes are the star of the show in this easy-to-make lunchbox winner. But the great thing about this recipe is that you can completely customise it to suit your child’s taste. Simply top with leftover vegies in the fridge and top with ricotta, parmesan and freshly chopped herbs before placing in the oven for 35-40 minutes to bake.
Raspberry and coconut oat slice
Sweet and full of fibre
This slice, which harnesses the power of pantry staples and fresh summer berries, is a great breaky-on-the-go, mid-morning snack or an afternoon pick-me-up. Raspberries not in season? Substitute with frozen berries to enjoy this slice year round.
Visit healthylunchbox.com.au
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