Healthy Eating for Children
Lunches and snacks play an important role in supplying children with their daily nutrition needs. Nearly half a child’s daily nutrition needs should be during the hours they are at school. Good nutrition at school will help children:
- build healthy bodies and minds
- stay alert and focused in class
- fuel with the best foods for activity and play
- stay healthy and fight illness
- maintain a healthy weight.
Eating habits are formed early in life, so by packing a healthy lunchbox and being a good role model, you will send a positive and powerful message to your child.
Tips for Packing Healthy Lunches
- Aim to include at least one item from each of the five food groups in your child’s lunchbox:
– grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high fibre varieties
– lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans
– milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat
– fruit
– vegetables and legumes/beans.
- Keep food easy to unwrap or peel.