Are you looking for some fresh ideas for your child’s lunchbox? Or maybe even your own! The NHS Change4Life website is a great place to go to find some healthy alternatives for your child – and your wallet!

It’s not always easy to find the time to think about varying meal choices – particularly when we fall into a routine, or we are strapped for cash by the end of the month, however there are some great alternative ideas available out there to help shake up the week and keep you and your child feeling happy.

Just some of the ideas on the Change4life site include:

·        Cheesy coleslaw with wholemeal pitta

·        Creamy hummus dip with vegetable sticks and pita bread

·        Egg mayonnaise lettuce bap

·        Spicy chicken and salad

·        Tuna ben salad!

There is also some fantastic tips for fussy eaters and healthier options. For example, did you know that if you base your lunchbox on foods like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, your child will most likely feel fuller for longer – and an even healthier option is wholegrain!

By mixing up your bread options – normal sliced, bagels, pittas or wraps, you can help make your lunchboxes more interesting. You could always freeze your bread too if aren’t using the whole loaf to stop it from going bad!

Lunchboxes can be more exciting for young ones too when they get the excitement of helping put it together – why not ask them the day before which fillings they fancy for tomorrow and give them some ownership of their lunch – some keen beans will even want to help make it!

Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to your bite-size fruit will help it preserve for longer, whether this is chopped apple, satsuma segments, halved grapes or melon slices.

There are loads of ideas available – so why not take a look today and shake lunchtime up for your family!