How to pack a Balanced Lunchbox

A Balanced Lunchbox.

By 2030, it is estimated one in two children will have chronic disease.

Educating kids on health & food starts at home - kids tend to do what we do, not what we say!

Children need a balance of nutrients each day for growth and development. Just like us, they need meals that are balanced in key macronutrients - protein, fibre, carbohydrate and healthy fat. We know providing the right nutrition for your growing child whilst offering them foods that they will actually eat can be quite the challenge. Coming up with lunchbox ideas is a bit of a balancing act between packing something that’s as equally nutritious as it is interesting – so your kids actually eat it.

We like offering meals up “platter style” - that way kids can choose how much & what they pop on their plate. When it comes to lunchboxes, bento style works well for this reason.

A few tips:

• Explain the “why” instead of referring to food as good/bad - instead of “carrots are healthy” try “carrots help you see in the dark.”

• Get your child involved in meals/packing lunches - ask them what they like.

• Portion sizes - offer a small portion so as to not overwhelm them. For instance, a couple of broccoli florets - not a handful.

• Texture/Visual - kids are much more sensitive to the look and feel of foods, ask them how they prefer foods prepared - cooked vs raw, how they would like foods cut, etc.

• Zinc - if you find your child is unusually fussy, have your practitioner test their zinc levels. Zinc deficiency affects our taste buds and can make us extra sensitive to flavours and textures.

Check out our “A Balanced Lunchbox”

And remember: Be realistic, these foods should make up 80% of your child's diet. There is of course room for treats as “sometimes” foods. And there will be days when their lunchbox is healthier than others & that’s ok, too.