Daunted at the thought of back to school lunchboxes? Worried about what your child will eat at school?

Then this blog is for you!

Kids go to school for 200 days every year. For parents and caregivers, this means 200 lunch boxes have to be made- for crunch and sip, recess and lunch!

What goes in a lunchbox?

The MOST important thing to go into a lunchbox is something your child will eat! There is no point putting together a beautiful and colourful looking lunchbox if your child won’t eat it.

Your child will have morning tea and lunch at school. That means you have breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner to provide a variety of food.

Where possible, in the lunchbox, include a variety of food including some fruit/veg, carbohydrates and protein. While you can put in some unfamiliar foods (if your child will be ok with this), make the bulk of the lunchbox safe and enjoyable.

What if my child doesn’t eat at school?

Start investigating why?

Do they know how to open their lunchbox?

Practice at home.

Are they unsure of the new school routine?

Don’t just practice opening the lunch box at home, eat from it across the day as well. Make it in the morning of a home day and bring it out at morning tea and lunch. Have one for yourself too!

Are they overwhelmed?

Consider how they are going at school as a whole and NOT just at mealtimes. Could strategies for regulation through the school day help them eat better? Put LESS in the lunchbox. Often parents put more in the box in the hope to entice their child but this tends to increase overwhelm. You don’t need to fill all sections of a bento box.

Have a preferred and filling snack ready for the car at school pick up.

Include your child in the lunchbox prep- this gives them some choice as well as prepares them for what they will find when they open the lid.

Help, my child doesn’t eat what their school says they need to?

Some schools have guidelines about what should/should not be in a lunchbox. While an avoidance of allergens is often necessary, you are able to advocate for your child for any other rules that may be in place.

We recommend this lunchbox sticker as a starting point to support your food choices.

We are here to help if your child has difficulties with eating the food school may be expecting- both with supporting you in advocacy or as supporting an increased interest in other foods (if that is what your goal is). Click the book now button below for 1:1 support with our Feeding team at Western Kids Health.