To kick-off the first school term this year, Nutrition Australia is this week (February 4-10, 2024) celebrating Healthy Lunchbox Week, to reinforce the importance of a packing a healthy lunch.
The public health initiative aims to inspire parents and carers Australia-wide to create healthy lunchboxes their kids will enjoy.
Children consume around 30 per cent of their daily food intake at school. Therefore, food intake at school plays a crucial role in child learning and development, and is vital to a child’s physical health, mental wellbeing, overall growth, and development.
Nutrition Australia reveals filling a child’s lunchbox with nourishing foods can offer them the necessary energy and nutrients they require to GO, GROW and GLOW throughout the day.
GO foods include grainy breads and wraps, pasta, rice, oats or quinoa that fuel body movement and brain power.
GROW foods contain important nutrients for building strong muscles, bones and teeth, such as lean meats, eggs, legumes, dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and calcium containing dairy alternatives.
GLOW foods support a child’s skin, hair, eye health and immune systems, including vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables.
To help balance the lunch box, Nutrition Australia encourages parents and carers to mix and match a variety of foods from each of the five food groups.
Importantly, kids are more likely to enjoy their lunchbox food if they participate in its preparation.
So next time you’re preparing your child’s lunchbox, follow these tips to get them involved:
- Select easy lunchbox recipes to prepare on a weekend together;
- Share simple tasks, such as cracking eggs, stirring and measuring ingredients;
- Help your child build their own lunchbox by keeping a selection of healthy grab and go items; and
- Encourage your child to fill their drink bottle with water.
If you’re seeking further inspo, head to: healthylunchboxweek.org.au
To build your own virtual lunchbox using the Cancer Council’s interactive lunchbox builder, visit: healthylunchbox.com.au