As your little ones head back to school, you’ll be back on packed lunch duty. But thinking up interesting ways to fill their lunch box can be a challenge, as is encouraging the kids to enjoy healthier options. Not to mention making sure you don’t spend a fortune every week. To help out, we’ve put together some affordable ideas for a packed lunch with added munch that ticks all the boxes!
Break free from boring sandwiches
Packed lunches have come a long way since soggy fish paste sarnies! But let’s face it, why should packed lunches always be sandwich based? Why not break free from the bread and try some of the tasty and healthy alternatives. Here are four easy-to-assemble complete lunch options to get you started…
Children’s ploughman’s
Mini cheese chunks (cheddar sticks or a Babybel are ideal)
Some juicy cherry tomatoes
A wholemeal pitta bread (halved)
Slices of apple or a handful of sweet seedless grapes
Some crunchy celery sticks
Sandwich pickle on the side (in a small pot or ramekin)
Some plain or flavoured couscous mixed with raisins and sultanas
Cubes of cold cooked chicken or chopped ham (optional)
Some juicy cherry tomatoes
A wholmeal pitta bread (halved)
Reduced fat houmous on the side (in a small pot or ramekin)
One small banana for afters
* You will need to supply plastic cutlery with this option
Dippers’ delight
Kids love finger food – making this healthy option a real hit
Breadsticks or crackers (wholemeal if possible)
Sticks of raw carrot (peeled), red or yellow peppers, mangetout and cherry tomatoes
Pots of reduced fat houmous, reduced fat cottage cheese and salsa
A low fat fruit yoghurt and apple for afters
New York bagel
Bagels are a healthier alternative to white bread. Simply cut a plain or wholemeal bagel into two slices (horizontally), spread each side with low fat cream cheese, and layer and layer on some slices of ham and salad. Include a healthy pear and a pot of low fat rice pudding for dessert.
Super soups – lunch in a flask
Soup is a brilliant way to make the most of your shopping budget. Great as a hearty dinner with chunky bread and perfect the next day as a packed lunch for the autumn and winter. Remember though, hot soup can scald so as a packed lunch option is only recommended for children over the age of 11. So make sure you follow these safety tips.
Choose a quality flask with a proper sealing mechanism
Do not overfill your flask – leave space in the neck to fit the stopper
Once filled make sure the outside cup and stopper are tightly closed
Make sure the user pours the contents into the outside cup and never drinks directly from the flask
The choice of soups is pretty much endless. But try to use ‘in season’ ingredients. Here are a few simple soups that are perfect for lunchtime slurping.
Spiced pumpkin soup
Roasted tomato soup
Pea and watercress soup
Recycle your evening meals
If you’re trying to stick to a budget, why not consider how to recycle your evening meals as packed lunch for the next day? Some dishes work better than others for leftovers recipes and are more practical for kids to eat cold – although remember a lot of these options will require a plastic fork (it’s best to use plastic cutlery for safety reasons). Here are a couple of options to consider…
Pasta Master
Thinking of whipping up a spag bol? Try using penne pasta instead. Once you’ve cooked the pasta, keep some back and allow to cool. Then stir through some sweetcorn and tuna or some reduced fat mayo, peppers and cheese for a scrumptious cold pasta salad that’s easy to eat – unlike spaghetti! Better still, pasta releases its energy slowly and will keep kids fuller for longer.
Spanish Treat
Spanish omelette is a brilliantly versatile menu choice. It’s brilliant hot or cold as an evening meal or as a light lunch. A simple finger salad of cucumber slices and tomatoes on the side will make it even healthier. And it’s not a messy lunch – they can eat it with their hands. So it’s a really practical solution too.
Healthy alternatives
Keeping kids healthy is important as they grow. With a little imagination you can make sure your children’s packed lunches are as healthy as they are economical. Here are a few simple ideas that prove that sometimes it really pays to think outside the box!
Potato salad with low fat mayo – a great way to reuse any leftover boiled spuds. Just allow to cool and add some low fat mayo and some crunchy spring onions.
Tasty fruit salad with natural yoghurt– top a fresh fruit salad of strawberries, grapes, melon and banana and blueberries with some delicious low fat natural yoghurt.
Malt loaf open sandwich – malt loaf is a great alternative to ordinary white bread, and it’s high in carbohydrates (meaning it releases energy in a more sustained way). Use it as the base for an open sandwich with chicken, ham or cheese.
For more ideas take a look at our other Feeding the Family articles.