Packed Lunch Guidelines

I'm in love. With the packed lunch guidelines handed out to me by Merrit's school. Typing from the pamphlet, now:

Marine Park First School actively supports healthy eating and drinking throughout the school day and aims to promote health awareness in all members of the school community. Here is guidance from the North Tyneside Council.


Some ideas for packed lunches.


Use a balance of good health as a basis for making your choices. Try to have something from three groups every day and all the groups during the week.


Don't over face your child with items or amounts of food. It is better that they eat up than get fed up half way through.


Group 1 - Breads and Cereals

• Slices of bread
• Bread rolls/buns
• Pita bread
• Chunks of French bread
• Bread sticks
• Crackers or cheese biscuits
• Fruit or cheese scone
• Cooked pasta
• Cold, chopped potato

Group 2 - Fruit and vegetables

• All types of fresh fruit (Think about how easy it is to peel/prepare at school. Why not try to chop or slice it at home and put into plastic containers. A spoon or fork might be needed to eat it with, so don't forget to pack it.)
• Some fruit goes well in sandwiches or salads, e.g., grated apple or cheese, pineapple chunks and ham
• Cherry tomatoes
• Salad leaves in sandwiches or separetely in a box or bag
• Carrot, celery, and cucumber sliced, grated or in sticks
• Tubs of coleslaw or similar "dressed" salad
• Small pots of tinned or stewed fruit - don't forget a spoon!
• Canned or frozen vegetables mixed into fillings, e.g., tuna and sweet corn, grated cheese and chopped green beans
• Pure juice

Group 3 - Meat, Fish, and Alternatives

• Cold sliced meat -  ham, chicken, turkey, etc.
• Salmon, tuna, sardines, pilchards
• Meat and fish spreads
• Liver pate
• Hard-boiled eggs - sliced, whole, or with mayonnaise/salad cream

Group 4 - Milk and Dairy Foods

• Cheese for sandwiches - grated, sliced, soft cheeses
• Yogurt or Fromage Frais
• Tubs of custard or milk-pudding style desserts
• Cartons of milk

You know what I love about this? It's real food. Un-processed, real food. I think it's also interesting to see what kids here eat, culturally speaking, that just wouldn't fly back in the U.S. Cold, chopped potato and pilchards. And not a Lunchable in sight.