As Aussie parents switch into the back-to-school routine, research from Australian Bananas has revealed 62% admit that they are looking to ensure their child eats a healthier diet to help fuel their fun in and out of the classroom. This starts with packing a healthier lunch box, with 54% of parents looking to include an Australian banana over chips and crackers or sweets.
Here are some handy hints and hacks to help pack a nutritious, energy-fuelled lunch box in under 15 minutes.
1. Don’t fuss – keep it simple
Save your energy by keeping it simple. Plain, simple food is a fan-favourite with little ones – cut up fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces and for sandwiches think spreads, or a slice of meat or cheese. There is no need to fuss, give yourself that time back by keeping lunches easy and simple.
- Add some fun with a banana
Adding colourful fruit and vegetables are a great way to breathe some fun into your child’s lunch box. Not only is it a great habit to get your kids into, but it is also a fantastic way to get your kids excited about healthy foods! Add colourful options like cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks or even cucumber fingers or celery sticks. For a quick and easy snack, I love adding an Australian banana. Naturally convenient and full of magnesium, folate and vitamin B6. The fun doesn’t have to be all food-based either! Pop in a little handwritten message of encouragement for your child or a note with a conversation starter to share with their classmates, alongside their banana to fuel back-to-school fun.
- Dairy for days
Including dairy adds some much-needed protein and calcium to the lunch box – whether that is throwing in some cheese cubes or a yoghurt pouch. Dairy is a crucial ingredient as it provides nutrients for long-lasting energy and healthy bones.
- Hold the packaged snacks
While there are school-friendly snacks out there on offer, they tend to often be lacking in nutritional value or come processed or infused with added sugars. Try to minimise packaged snacks where possible – a lot of schools these days also encourage wrapper-free lunch boxes to help promote sustainable habits.
- A treat here and there
Although it’s important to focus on the health aspect of a lunch box, kids love a treat here and there. It’s important they learn the importance of having a healthy, balanced diet so it is okay to introduce a ‘sometimes’ food to the lunch box every now and again. It can be worth asking your children what sort of treats they’d like to see in their lunch box, using the opportunity as a learning moment.
Packed full of honest-to-goodness natural energy and a convenient lunch box essential – Aussie parents can now create their own back-to-school banana by adding handwritten notes to their child’s lunch box or by printing the downloadable Australian Bananas conversation starters here.
