The Witchlings are off to playscheme.  They have a structured day of fun activities and free time to keep them amused and entertained from 8am until 6pm.  All we have to provide is the children and a packed lunch.  Packed Lunches!  What a total nightmare.  What do you put into a lunch box that will be healthy, interesting, tasty, AND won’t end up in a mangled mess at the bottom of their bag by home time?
Here are my top tips for healthy packed lunches that the Witchlings will actually eat.
1.    Keep a selection of different breads up your sleeve, (actually the freezer is probably better).  Simply defrost the amount you need for tomorrows sandwiches the night before.  Favourites of the Witchlings are Pitta Pockets, Wraps, Labanese Bread, and soft white rolls.  You can also try bagels, mini baguettes, or granary bread for extra variety.
2.    For kids who turn their noses up at brown or wholemeal bread, there are lots of ‘white’ breads on the market now that are made with high proportions of wholemeal flour. Try Hovis ‘Best Of Both’ (it even comes without the crusts!)
3.    Try to add some sort of salad to every sandwich.  A few slices of cucumber or a single lettuce leaf, or a slice or two of tomato adds colour and nutritional value to any butty.
4.    Use only low fat spread or very low fat mayonnaise on just 1 slice of bread to keep fat content low.
5.    Fillings such as Tuna, Lean ham, Chicken breast, or sliced egg are healthy and won’t get too soggy or dry out before lunchtime.  If your own Witchlings are cheese fans then Cottage Cheese or Edam are low in fat and taste great.
6.    Pack some carrot sticks or cucumber batons into a little tub or a separate zip lock bag.  They’re easy to eat and have lots of crunchy goodness in them too.  Cherry tomatoes are a good choice also, although they’re better packed in a little box due to their squishiness.
7.    Make a fruit salad instead of packing sweets.  You can use any sort of fruit that your child will eat and it all counts towards their five a day.
8.    My Witchlings have very sweet teeth.  I add a handful of dried fruit to their lunchboxes.  They love little boxes of raisins.
9.    To make sure the Witchlings get enough calcium, I add a yoghurt their lunch box every day.  I stick to the low fat versions where I can.  Their favourites are the squeezy tubes of fromage frais. I love them too as I don’t have to sacrifice my teaspoons!
10.    The Witchlings leave each morning with a huge water bottle, brim full with sugar free squash or just plain water.  Staying hydrated during summer, especially while they are running around at playscheme, is very important.

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