What's on the Menu today mum?

Along with the new pencil case, the book bag and the uniform you have probably had to buy the sandwich box and now are wondering dismally what to put init that constitutes a healthy diet. After all having and bringing up a healthy child is important to most parents and one of the main topics of concern these days is just what children are eating.
With any luck your school will be looking at a healthy menu for its own school dinners, but the frightening statistics show that most school meals are not only lacking in vital nutrients and vitamins but are helping toward the growing obesity problems, Attention deficient problems (ADHA), eczema, and other dreadful childhood illnesses that chemicals, additives and preservatives that contribute towards leafing difficulties. Children luckily respond well and quickly to the simple elimination of processed foods from their diet, especially soft drinks and sugary products but encouraging a natural diet can be difficult when they spend time and a meal away from you for five days of the week.
Planning -your first priority. Its no good not having worked it all out and then made sure that you have what you need in the fridge and cupboard. If you run out the chances are that you will fill the lunchbox with crisps, a chewy bar and a chocolate biscuit or yoghurt loaded in sugar. Another reason for parents supplementing good natural food for convenience processed products is that they regard it as a comfort, how many times have you regarded your child with the promise of sweets or chocolate or an ice cream if they behave themselves or do something you really don’t want to have the battle about. Or they may have had an upset and after the initial cuddle the offer of a goodie to make them feel better becomes a constant source of relied upon comfort.

So we need to make the lunch box as natural as possible what are our options?
Fillings- Fruit is a good start, remember that even the WHO (world health organisation) recommends five helpings per day of fruit and vegetables. Children can easily be put off fruit that looks bruised and battered so trying to present it in a state that looks pleasant is the first priority. If you intend to let them eat the skin of an apple for example, wash it first and where possible buy organic. Other fruit can be cut up and put in a separate food container. Mix fruit up, don’t stick to apples and oranges and bananas but be a bit more adventurous and give your child a fork and a wet wipe if they are likely to become sticky.
Add raw vegetables, celery sticks, carrot sticks, cucumber chunks are all easy to eat, offer them as finger food, not too big in portions.
Sandwiches can be made on organic bread, with a little spread and filled with unprocessed foods, honey for example is good if your child likes sweet things, tuna, organic cheese, freshly cooked meats, humous, grilled vegetables. Make a muffin homemade pizza, try pitta bread as a change
Add a yoghurt that is not high in sugar or make your own, flap jack or cereal bar.