Tips:

• Use a clothes peg to seal half a bag of crisps/snacks to avoid having to give a whole packet in one day.
• Include either small pieces of fruit or cut up and put in a container ready to eat.  It makes it more appetising and appealing to eat.
• Cut sandwiches small and avoid doorsteps of bread which can be unappealing.
• Include shaped sandwiches to encourage them to be eaten and therefore removing crusts or just do it on special occasions for fun (Valentines, Christmas, Easter, Birthday etc).
• If making lunchboxes for more than one at home give variety of sandwiches (2 different halves or 4 different quarters)!
• If preparing the night before let the children help you pack the boxes.
• Make cakes or flapjacks together at the weekend to last the week.  They’ll enjoy eating their own creations.
• Use fun containers – perhaps their favourite characters
• Don’t overload the lunchbox – go for quality rather than quantity
• Don’t worry about repeating the contents – children have their favourite things
• Ask what their friends have and would they like to try anything different
• If not keen on bread try Nimble or lighter bread and dainty sandwiches – many children find normal bread difficult to digest.
• Put an ice pack in the lunchbox to help keep contents fresh and cool.
• Include dried fruit as well as fresh – apricots, prunes, raisins, fruit flakes etc
• Avoid all chocolate as this is a short quick stimulant and is proven to affect learning – keep treats for hometime.
• Avoid frube tubes as the children require help to open them and often lose most of the contents.  A pot of yoghurt/dessert and a spoon is much better.
• Do not overload the lunchbox – add variety throughout the week rather than all on one day.

Suggestions for lunchboxes:

Cheese portions – babybel, triangles or other
Cheese strings
Pepperoni
Pasties, sausage rolls, party eggs
Breadsticks
Oatcakes 
Flapjacks
Pancakes
Jelly
Yoghurt
Small cake
Fruit/Vegetables
Individual custard pots

Sandwiches:

Cheese
Ham or other cold meats
Marmite
Tinned tuna / salmon mayonnaise
Egg mayonnaise
Corned beef / pickle
Cream cheese

Wraps:

Most of above fillings rolled up

Container with one of the following:

Pasta plain or add any favourite ingredients
Avocado/sweetcorn/veg/salad in a container
Container of chopped veg and dip – humous or other
Noodles/rice with favourite ingredients
Quiche
Tortilla / cold egg omelette