A healthy lunch box contains...
Your lunch box tips
Recipes & more
Breads &
cereals
Select one to start packing.
Bread roll
Choose the right size bread roll.
Sandwich
Choose multigrain or wholemeal bread.
Wraps
Wrap up leftover roast meat.
Rice/corn cakes
Top with cottage cheese and veg.
Wholegrain crispbread
Pack toppings separately to prevent sogginess.
Wholegrain crackers
Top crackers with your favourite cheese.
Dairy
Select one to start packing.
Cheese
Save money and cut cheese from a block.
Yoghurt
Choose natural yoghurt which has less sugar.
Milk popper
Ready to pack from fridge or freezer.
Milk popper soy
Choose soy milk that’s calcium-fortified.
Cream cheese
Use as a spread on crispbread or sandwiches.
Cottage cheese/ricotta
Serve with fruit, or stir into pasta dishes.
Labneh
A tangy fresh cheese made from yoghurt.
Smoothie
Make at home, freeze to thaw in the lunch box.
Custard
Long-life tubs are a handy pantry staple.
Fruit
Select one to start packing.
Apple
Cut and reassemble apple with cling wrap.
Sliced fruit
Sliced fruit can be easier for kids to manage.
Banana
Cut the stalk to make peeling easier for kids.
Mandarin
Peel and reseal to make eating easier for kids.
Blueberries (or mixed berries)
Ready to go: wash and pack in a container.
Strawberries
Serve alone or with natural yoghurt.
Orange
Cut orange into segments for ease of eating.
Pear
Wrap the pear in a napkin to prevent bruising.
Fruit salad
Make a mix of favourite fruit.
Fruit skewers
Add sliced fruit to paddle pop sticks
Passionfruit
Comes in its own packaging
Rockmelon
Rockmelon cubes make a juicy snack
Mango (cheek, cut ready to pop)
Cut in to the cheek so kids can pop and eat.
Grapes
Pack a small bunch so kids can pick the fruit.
Kiwifruit
Slice top and pack a spoon for scooping flesh.
Nectarine/peach
Serve as a snack or sliced in a leafy salad.
Fresh watermelon pieces
Cut in to small pieces to make it easier to eat.
Apricots
Two apricots are equal to one serve of fruit.
Canned fruit
Canned fruit in juice - a pantry staple.
Dates
Choose pitted dates for ease of eating.
Dried apricots
Two dried apricots equals one serve of fruit.
Figs (fresh or dried)
Fresh or dried varieties, both taste great.
Sultanas
A small 30g packet equals one serve of fruit.
Fruit chips (e.g. banana, apple etc.)
To make: dip slices in lemon juice and bake.
Meat &
alternatives
Select one to start packing.
Boiled egg
Cook, cool in the fridge, peel and pack.
Chicken drumstick
Great finger food.
Lean beef, lamb or pork
Make extra at dinner for use in lunch boxes.
Home-cooked or BBQ chicken
Leftovers are easy to use in the lunch box.
Canned tuna or salmon
A go-to sandwich, sushi or salad filling.
Baked beans
A handy pantry staple. Opt for salt-reduced.
Crispy/dried chickpeas snack
A healthy alternative to chips and biscuits.
Vegetables &
salads
Select one to start packing.
Salad leaves
Give sandwiches, wraps and rolls a green boost.
Vegetable sticks (carrot or celery)
Vegie sticks are easy to hold.
Cherry tomatoes
A healthy snack, good for little hands.
Grated carrot
A colourful addition to sandwiches and salads
Sprouts
Delicious in a sandwich, wrap or roll
Capsicum strips
Cut up a combination of red, green and yellow.
Tomato & cucumber slices
Avoid soggy sandwiches.
Beetroot slices
Beetroot slices
Green beans
Raw or cooked
Corn cob
Cook extra at dinner to add to the lunch box.
Avocado
Squeeze lemon on cut avocado to stop browning.
Snow peas
Great on their own or as a ready-made dipper.
Bean shoots
Include in a salad
Mini corn
So crunchy
Edamame
Great on their own or in a salad
Sugar snap peas
Crunchy and sweet
Fennel
If you like the flavour of licorice
Vegetable skewers
Add sliced vegies to paddle sticks
Baked vegies
Great in sandwiches, wraps, or for a snack.
Water
Select one to start packing.
Frozen water bottle
Add a frozen water bottle to keep food cool.
Water with cucumber slices
Add cucumber slices for a refreshing drink.
Water bottle
Keep kids hydrated: pack a water bottle daily.