Back to School Lunch Box Project

The new school term begins and so does my enthusiasm for packing healthy and fun lunches. I can’t say I have a fussy eater, but she likes to be given a smorgasbord of options. I am looking forward to an empty lunchbox returned at the end of the day. I have decided to involve my daughter more in choosing and preparing her lunches, that should get her to be more interested to eat all the goodness we pack. We decided that an array of smaller portions would be the most appealing.

So after a little discussion about the delicious options available, I am off to the shops (alone) with my list and eager eyes to look out for anything I have missed out on in the past. I buy a packet of this and a bunch of that. Nothing goes to waste in my house and a punnet of strawberries is going to last the whole week, but is this the variety I am so desperately seeking?

Day one:

I think I am the most excited person in my house! So excited in fact that I pack lunches the night before. I arrange my selection of fine produce that I selected at my shopping trip. I am armed and ready to pack the most exhilarating lunch yet.

• A small helping of biltong (protein is important)
• Some pistachios (she loves them)
• A little helping of pretzels (for shape variety)
• Cucumber and strawberry salad (a fruit & vegetable she loves and adds colour)
• A bottle of water (her choice)
• A Tinky (a treat, which she has agreed can only be eaten if everything else is eaten)

Voila! I think that is a reasonably healthy lunch. The outcome after the first day back at school – an empty lunch box!

Day Two:

Still feeling rather inspired. Lunch is packed in the morning, and as it goes I have a bag of biltong, packet of pistachios, a punnet of strawberries and box of Tinky’s. This all looks a little familiar. I have been told to not pack biltong – so I need to find another great source of protein – dry wors was her suggestion.

I was inspired today and made some healthy, unsweetened snacks - homemade dried fruit. It’s so easy. Pre-Heat oven to 80C, put the washed, cored and peeled fruit on a cookie sheet. Leave the door slightly open to let steam escape and turn every hour or so. Apples can take about 8 hours other fruit may take longer.

Day Three:

Today I found a healthier option of low GI Apple ‘n Spice Cupcakes to replace the daily Tinky. These cupcakes are lower in fat than shop bought ones which have an average of 10g saturated fat per muffin, which is equivalent to 2 teaspoons of butter.

I am on my way with an awesome weekly lunch box plan. I want every day to feel like Christmas, when that lunch box is opened! (Just hope I can keep up the momentum.)