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The packed lunch challenge
3rd January 2018 | Posted by: Vanessa Giraud
After the winter holiday, our kids are back in school, and the packed lunch challenge is on again!
It’s a tough one!
Change4Life has launched its new campaign to remind us that too much sugar is bad for our bodies and bad for our teeth: “Children in England are eating nearly three times the recommended amount of sugar. Too much sugar is bad for their health. Surprisingly, half the sugar they consume comes from snacks and sugary drinks.”
We need to be clear that a ‘snack’ should be a treat, and not part of a meal. Sweets, sugary drinks, chocolate and crisps are not meant to be everyday staples.
Education about eating and its impact on our health is as important as any classroom learning, and a nutritious packed lunch helps children to learn too.
Persuading children to eat what’s good for them can be hard, but it’s for the best.
Why not plan a menu for the week with your children?
Their input and help with preparation may make the packed lunch challenge easier for everyone!
Use the government guidelines below, to help come up with a plan to beat the packed lunch challenge!
Or follow this link for some great packed lunch recipes
What’s in a healthy packed lunch?
A child at school should have about a third of their daily nutrient requirements at lunchtime. This means they need food that are going to provide them with enough energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
A healthy packed lunch should contain a mix of foods from the EatWell Plate. The EatWell Plate shows how much should be eaten from each of the 5 food groups.
A good packed lunch contains:
- A starchy food, such as bread, rolls, pitta bread, naan bread, potatoes, rice, noodles.
- These foods are good for children to fill up on.
- A good source of protein, iron and zinc such as meat, fish, beans, nuts or eggs.
- A good source of calcium such as milk, cheese, yoghurt or fromage frais.
- And one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetable or salad to provide all the other vitamins and minerals. A piece of fruit could be a 100% juice or piece of fresh fruit, dried fruit or tinned fruit in fruit juice. A piece of vegetable could be a fresh vegetables such as carrot stick, salad or a vegetable soup or vegetable dish.
No single food contains all the essential nutrients the body needs to be healthy and function efficiently so it is important that the content of the packed lunch is varied.
What about snacks such as crisps, cakes, pastries and sweets?
These foods should only be given occasionally. Children will then appreciate them more.
If these foods are included in packed lunches they might eat these first and not have the appetite to eat the other foods that will provide them with the important nutrients they need to grow and develop, be healthy and active.
Also:
- Change4Life ITV news
- Government packed lunch advice
- Reduced sugar intake
- Home baked is better
- Contact the Plymouth team