Lunch Box Recipes for KidsHealthy lunches and snacks are important for active children. It is important to ofer healthy lunch box choices. Tips include fresh fruit, crunchy vegetables and a combination of protein, dairy and carbohydratefoods.Eatinghealthy food helps children concentrate and learn.Encouragechildren to help choose and prepare their own lunch. They might like to make a list of the foods they enoy. !raise your child when they choose healthy foods for their lunch box.There are limited times for children to eat during the day, especially at school. #hildren may prefer to play with friends instead of eating. Encourage your child to sit and eat before heading out to play$id%s &unch 'ox(reshfruit#runchy vegetables) meat or protein food such as slices of lean meat, hardboiled egg, peanut butter ornutpaste*airy food such as a cheese stick or slice, grated cheese, milk or yoghurt+tarchy food such as bread, a roll, pita or ,at bread, fruit bread or crackers-ater.(oods to put in a &unch 'oxThere are lots of food choices available for lunch boxes. However, it can sometimes be di.cult to decide which foods are healthy choices. +uggestions include/(ruits0 best choices include fresh or tinned fruit. *ried fruit is sticky and high in sugar, so have it occasionally. 'est left out of the lunch box are dried fruit bars and 1straps%, which are very high in sugar, low in2breand stick to children%s teeth causing tooth decay.3egetables0 try vegetable sticks with dip or a small container with mixed vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, capsicum and cucumber. #hips and packets of crisps are best left for parties and special occasions.(oods +uggestions for &unch 'ox4ilk, yoghurt and custard0 include a small drink of milk 5free6e overnight7 wrapped in a cloth in the lunch box. (ruit yoghurts should be kept cool in an insulated lunch box. 'est left out of the lunch box are 1dairy desserts% and,avouredmilks, which are high in sugar.*ips, cheese and biscuits0 pre8packaged or your own homemade versions of cheese and crackers are 2ne. #hildren enoy mini packaged cheeses. )void sweet dips such as chocolate spreads. 19ven8baked%savourybiscuits are ust as high in salt and fat as chips and are best avoided.(oods +uggestions for &unch 'ox*iferentbreads add interest0 include a variety of bread, especially if children begin to lose interest in sandwiches. Try bread rolls, pita bread, ,at bread, bagels, fruit loaf or buns,foccacias, scones,pikelets, mu.ns, crumpets,crispbreads, rice cakes or corn thins.4u.ns and cakes0 try making your own mu.ns and cakes as a great way to include more fruit and vegetables. Examples include sultana, carrot, 6ucchini, banana or pumpkin. *onuts and creamy cakes are best ofered at birthdays and special occasions instead of in lunch boxes.(oods +uggestions for &unch 'ox+picy 3egetable toast'read !ancakes+ui*hokla+uiuttapam'read cup pi66a'read roll with potato 2lling+ome 4oreHealthy :ecipes(oods should be simple and easy to prepare, ready to eat andappetisingafter several hours storage in the lunch box. (oods such as sandwiches can be prepared the night before or on the weekend, fro6en, then taken for each day%s lunch box. +uitable foods to free6einclude/'read#ooked meat#heese!eanut butter'aked beans4ashed eggs;east or vegetable spreads such as 3egemite.#hoice of (ro6en (oodsInmost cases, food is stored in lunch boxes for several hours, so the lunch box needs to stay cool. (ood safety suggestions include/ #hoosean insulated lunch box or one with a free6er pack, or include a wrapped fro6en water bottle to keep the lunch box cool.(ollow hygienic food preparation methods. This is especially important when food will be stored in the lunch box for many hours before eating.!repare lunches the night before and store in the fridge or free6er.!erishable foods such as dairy products, eggs and sliced meats should be kept cool and eaten within about four hours of preparation. *on%t pack these foods if ust cooked. (irst cool in the refrigerator overnight.(ood +afety in &unch 'ox-aterand milk are the best drinks for children. They can be fro6en to help keep foods in the lunch box cool.+weetdrinks such as fruit uices, uice drinks, cordials, sports drinks,,avouredmineral waters, soft drinks and 266y drinks are high in sugar and not necessary. These drinks can increase the risk of tooth decay, are 2lling and may take the place of healthier foods.Health drinks for &unch 'oxHandyware$id