School dinners made simple

SPENDING hours preparing packed lunches only for them to come home half-eaten is demoralising.

It can be tempting to revert to reliable favourites but ensuring your child eats a nutritious lunch will boost their brainpower for the afternoon and keep them fuelled until teatime. Food expert Annabel Karmel says packed lunches can be a perfect opportunity to persuade them try new things. “Mealtimes at home can be emotionally charged,” she says. “But once your child is with their friends, there is often a desire to fit in. If the other children are munching away, they are likely to follow rather than cause a fuss.” Check out Annabel’s top tips for lunches below.

Children

1

food so chop veggies love to pick up damp

them in slightly into batons, wrap favourite

serve with their kitchen roll and

hummus for dipping. sandwich and

CHEF Use a weekend

MAKE THEM kitch

your child in the afternoon to get

the week batch cook for en and help you something

more likely to try ahead.they are

prepared it. new if they have stories

LUNCH Kids love

3

TALK ABOUT with

you are preparing, so explain what

to get them excited plenty of positives about eating it.

A homemade

4

SNACK SMARTER

or with veggie fillings savoury muffin will top

of refined sugar energy bars free treat.

but feel like a up their energy

SERVE SARNIES

5

DON’T JUST ,

or rice salads

Try kids on pasta

balls or pitta pockets make mini veggie

and sweetcorn. filled with tuna

FOODS EMBRACE FINGER 2