‘I thought those were dead leeches’ people cry after student shows off  the ‘shameful’ lunch she gets served at school

• Base the lunchbox on foods like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes – wholegrain ideally – too keep kids fuller for longer
• If your child isn’t keen on wholegrain, try making sandwiches with one slice of white and one slice of wholemeal bread
• Try to keep lunchboxes interesting by using a variety of shapes like bagels, pittas and wraps
• Make food fun as lunches can be more exciting if the child has to put them together, like having foods for dipping and makes a change from sandwiches every day.
• Opt for low fat foods, like lean meats or fish.
• Cut down on the amount of spreads you put into sandwiches
• Always add a bit of salad and vegetables to the meal
• Cut down on the crisps
• Chop up some fruit or peal satsuamas and add those instead of sweets
• Cheese can be high in fat and salt so pick strong tasting ones or go for low-fat varieties
• Get the kids involved in making the lunch – they’ll be more likely to eat it if they helped make it

Here are some kid-friendly, easy lunch box ideas that aren’t sandwiches:

Pizza Roll-Ups

Ingredients: Tortilla wraps, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices.

Instructions: Spread marinara sauce on the tortilla, sprinkle cheese and add pepperoni. Roll up and slice into pinwheels.

Pasta Salad

Ingredients: Cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mini mozzarella balls, Italian dressing.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together and toss with dressing.

Veggie and Hummus Wraps

Ingredients: Tortilla wraps, hummus, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips.

Instructions: Spread hummus on the tortilla and add veggies. Roll up and slice into pinwheels.

Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

Ingredients: Sliced turkey, cheese sticks, whole grain crackers.

Instructions: Roll turkey slices around cheese sticks and pack with a side of crackers.

DIY Lunchables

Ingredients: Whole grain crackers, sliced cheese, turkey or ham slices, apple slices.

Instructions: Pack all ingredients separately so kids can assemble their own mini sandwiches.

Mini Pancakes and Fruit

Ingredients: Mini pancakes, mixed berries, syrup (optional).

Instructions: Pack mini pancakes with a side of berries and a small container of syrup for dipping.

Cucumber Sushi Rolls

Ingredients: Cucumber, cream cheese, sliced turkey or ham.

Instructions: Slice cucumber lengthwise, spread with cream cheese, and roll up with turkey or ham. Slice into bite-sized pieces.

Fruit Kababs

Ingredients: Various fruits (grapes, strawberries, pineapple, melon), cheese cubes.

Instructions: Thread fruit and cheese cubes onto skewers.

Cheese and Veggie Muffins

Ingredients: Shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, shredded cheese, eggs, flour.

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together, pour into a muffin tin, and bake until set.