After preparing a nutritious and tasty lunch for your little one, the last thing you want to see at the end of the school day is a lunchbox still containing that same lunch. The waste of food, not to mention the time in the kitchen, is an obvious issue, but uneaten lunches can be a real worry if it starts to become a daily occurrence for your child.
If a child is not eating their lunch they may feel sluggish and unable to concentrate in school. Small children especially may become irritable and tired, which may lead to behavioural problems in the classroom and yard.
Snacking on nutritious foods during the school day is crucial to a child’s physical and mental development, and it provides them with the much-needed energy to get through a day of learning and playing.
As well as maintaining energy levels, a nutrient-filled diet can also help to protect the child’s immune system, keeping them strong enough to naturally fight off all those bugs and germs which linger around stuffy classrooms.
With 30 minutes allocated to the school lunch break, for many, playtime inevitably takes priority over eating their lunch, so one way to combat the problem of half-eaten lunches is to include small, portable items which can easily be brought out on yard.
Nutrient-dense snacks such as bananas or homemade granola bars can be consumed with ease while also providing the child with a stable energy boost.
Ideally a lunchbox should include some fruit or vegetables, a source of protein and some dairy, but including any sort of nutritious foods which you know your child to enjoy is essential.
Many children welcome the idea of being involved with the preparation of their lunch.
If the child helps to shop for their ingredients and then assembles some part of their lunch, it will give them a certain amount of responsibility, and in turn it might spark a little interest in trying out what they’ve helped to prepare.
Chicken pinwheel wraps. \ Nessa Robins
Chicken pinwheel wraps
Wraps tend to be a great hit with children, as they are easy for little hands to manage and also take less time to consume, which leaves a few more minutes for the all-important playground. I am obsessed with keeping sandwiches cool, especially if they include meat, so I invested in some tiny icepacks a few years back, which I always tuck under wrapped sandwiches, rolls and wraps.
100g plain Greek yoghurt
1 tsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp curry powder
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
2 chicken fillets, diced
To serve:
4 flour tortilla wraps
3-4 tsp mayonnaise
½ iceberg lettuce, roughly chopped
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 To a large bowl, add the Greek yoghurt, olive oil, garlic, curry powder, and a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper.2 Add the diced chicken and coat each one well with the marinade. Leave to sit in the fridge for two hours, or if possible overnight.3 Preheat the oven to 200°C/ fan 180°C/gas mark six.4 Arrange the chicken on a foil-lined baking tray and place in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Once the chicken is fully cooked through and slightly golden, chop it into smaller pieces and cool quickly before refrigerating until ready to use.5 To make the wraps, spread a little mayonnaise on one side of each wrap. Scatter over some lettuce and slices of tomato, and top with the cooled chicken.6 Roll the wraps up tightly, then slice diagonally into bite-size pieces. Wrap in greaseproof paper ready for the lunchbox.Crunchy coconut granola pots
Natural probiotic yoghurts are a great addition to a lunchbox, as the good bacteria in the yoghurt is wonderful for the gut and helps to fight away some of the bugs little ones come into contact with in the classroom. There are many different flavours on the market, but if you’re using a natural probiotic yoghurt, and your little one finds it too bitter, simply stir through a little honey or maple syrup before serving. This granola will keep well in an air-tight container for up to a fortnight.
200g porridge oats
50g sesame seeds
50g sunflower seeds
25g desiccated coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
50ml coconut oil
25ml maple syrup
25g soft brown sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
To serve:
Natural probiotic yoghurt
Fresh berries
1 Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/ fan 170°C/gas mark five.2 In a large bowl combine the oats, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and desiccated coconut. Sprinkle over the cinnamon, and stir to combine.3 In a small saucepan, over a low heat, melt together the coconut oil, maple syrup and brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to bubble. Once melted, stir through the vanilla extract and pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture. Stir well to combine.4 Tip the mixture onto a large baking tray and spread evenly.5 Place in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, stirring the mixture two or three times while baking, to ensure the granola is baking evenly. 6 Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight jar/container.7 To assemble, ready for the lunchbox, layer the fully cooled granola into a small transportable pot along with layers of yoghurt and chopped berries.
Read more
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Home Nurse: nutritious Easter treats
After preparing a nutritious and tasty lunch for your little one, the last thing you want to see at the end of the school day is a lunchbox still containing that same lunch. The waste of food, not to mention the time in the kitchen, is an obvious issue, but uneaten lunches can be a real worry if it starts to become a daily occurrence for your child.
If a child is not eating their lunch they may feel sluggish and unable to concentrate in school. Small children especially may become irritable and tired, which may lead to behavioural problems in the classroom and yard.
Snacking on nutritious foods during the school day is crucial to a child’s physical and mental development, and it provides them with the much-needed energy to get through a day of learning and playing.
As well as maintaining energy levels, a nutrient-filled diet can also help to protect the child’s immune system, keeping them strong enough to naturally fight off all those bugs and germs which linger around stuffy classrooms.
With 30 minutes allocated to the school lunch break, for many, playtime inevitably takes priority over eating their lunch, so one way to combat the problem of half-eaten lunches is to include small, portable items which can easily be brought out on yard.
Nutrient-dense snacks such as bananas or homemade granola bars can be consumed with ease while also providing the child with a stable energy boost.
Ideally a lunchbox should include some fruit or vegetables, a source of protein and some dairy, but including any sort of nutritious foods which you know your child to enjoy is essential.
Many children welcome the idea of being involved with the preparation of their lunch.
If the child helps to shop for their ingredients and then assembles some part of their lunch, it will give them a certain amount of responsibility, and in turn it might spark a little interest in trying out what they’ve helped to prepare.
Chicken pinwheel wraps. \ Nessa Robins
Chicken pinwheel wraps
Wraps tend to be a great hit with children, as they are easy for little hands to manage and also take less time to consume, which leaves a few more minutes for the all-important playground. I am obsessed with keeping sandwiches cool, especially if they include meat, so I invested in some tiny icepacks a few years back, which I always tuck under wrapped sandwiches, rolls and wraps.
100g plain Greek yoghurt
1 tsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp curry powder
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
2 chicken fillets, diced
To serve:
4 flour tortilla wraps
3-4 tsp mayonnaise
½ iceberg lettuce, roughly chopped
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 To a large bowl, add the Greek yoghurt, olive oil, garlic, curry powder, and a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper.2 Add the diced chicken and coat each one well with the marinade. Leave to sit in the fridge for two hours, or if possible overnight.3 Preheat the oven to 200°C/ fan 180°C/gas mark six.4 Arrange the chicken on a foil-lined baking tray and place in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Once the chicken is fully cooked through and slightly golden, chop it into smaller pieces and cool quickly before refrigerating until ready to use.5 To make the wraps, spread a little mayonnaise on one side of each wrap. Scatter over some lettuce and slices of tomato, and top with the cooled chicken.6 Roll the wraps up tightly, then slice diagonally into bite-size pieces. Wrap in greaseproof paper ready for the lunchbox.Crunchy coconut granola pots
Natural probiotic yoghurts are a great addition to a lunchbox, as the good bacteria in the yoghurt is wonderful for the gut and helps to fight away some of the bugs little ones come into contact with in the classroom. There are many different flavours on the market, but if you’re using a natural probiotic yoghurt, and your little one finds it too bitter, simply stir through a little honey or maple syrup before serving. This granola will keep well in an air-tight container for up to a fortnight.
200g porridge oats
50g sesame seeds
50g sunflower seeds
25g desiccated coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
50ml coconut oil
25ml maple syrup
25g soft brown sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
To serve:
Natural probiotic yoghurt
Fresh berries
1 Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/ fan 170°C/gas mark five.2 In a large bowl combine the oats, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and desiccated coconut. Sprinkle over the cinnamon, and stir to combine.3 In a small saucepan, over a low heat, melt together the coconut oil, maple syrup and brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to bubble. Once melted, stir through the vanilla extract and pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture. Stir well to combine.4 Tip the mixture onto a large baking tray and spread evenly.5 Place in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, stirring the mixture two or three times while baking, to ensure the granola is baking evenly. 6 Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight jar/container.7 To assemble, ready for the lunchbox, layer the fully cooled granola into a small transportable pot along with layers of yoghurt and chopped berries.
Read more
Nessa Robins's comforting recipes when coping with loss
Home Nurse: nutritious Easter treats
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