Simple lunchbox changes can keep school meals out of the food waste bin

As the school year begins, many parents face the daily challenge of preparing a lunchbox their children will actually eat. DR spoke to Britta Surland, head of Arla’s food inspiration kitchen, who offered four ways to make school lunches more appealing and practical.

A lunchbox that comes home warm, crushed and untouched can quickly end up in the food waste bin. Surland’s advice is that it does not need to be a perfect project or decorated with elaborate shapes.

Make it easy to eat with one hand

Some schools have short lunch breaks, while other children would rather go outside and play than spend a long time eating. Food that can be held in one hand can therefore be a useful solution, Surland said.

She recommends wraps, which can be filled with chicken, vegetables, eggs or leftovers from dinner. Other options include sausage rolls, pizza rolls and lunchbox buns. Oats and vegetables can be added to many of these foods to make them part of a more complete meal.

Find healthier versions of favourite foods

If a child prefers foods that are not particularly healthy, parents can try alternative versions, Surland said.

Her own son likes instant noodles, which are often high in salt and additives. Instead, she gives him a box containing noodles, chicken and plenty of vegetables, along with a small container of stock or seasoning. He can then add boiling water himself.

Involve the child in making the lunch

Children’s preferences can change quickly. Something they loved on Monday may be unacceptable by Thursday.

Surland recommends involving children in deciding what goes into the lunchbox and letting them help prepare it, without giving them complete freedom to choose sweets and biscuits every day.

The lunchbox that comes home can also provide useful feedback, she said. Parents can look at what was eaten and what was left untouched. If carrot sticks have returned in the schoolbag three days in a row, it may be time to try something else.

Use meal preparation and leftovers

For many parents, the hardest part is not making the lunch but deciding what to prepare. Some advance preparation can make mornings easier, Surland said. Pasta can be cooked for several days, extra chicken can be prepared and vegetables can be cut in advance.

Leftovers can also become the next day’s lunch. If a child likes the previous evening’s meal cold, or if the school has a microwave or the child has a food thermos, dinner can be packed for the following day.

“You just need to make a little more dinner, and then it is ready for the next day,” Surland said.