Packed lunches need to include all food groups

School packed lunches should contain elements from all four food groups needed to obtain a diet that promotes good family health.

Dr Sarah Schenker, dietitian from the British Dietetic Association (BDA), explained that these groups are broken down into fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates, dairy and protein.

The key to getting children interested in food is to introduce variety, she suggested, making sure they do not eat the same packed lunch every day.

“You can alternate between fillings, and little pots of things to have, and when it comes to the rolls or sandwiches, keep it interesting by doing different things,” Dr Schenker suggested.

“The last thing to always add is a drink; whether that’s a bottle of water, a carton of fruit juice, a yoghurt drink or maybe a low-fat milkshake,” she added.

Her comments follow a study by University of Texas researchers, published in Pediatrics, which found that many packed lunches could be risking family health by being kept at unsafe temperatures.

Posted by Libby Ward