Packed Lunch

• A Typical Packed Lunch A typical packed lunch would contain the following:
• A sandwich (no chocolate / peanut butter spreads) or pasta/rice dish/ soup or meat/fish salad
• Two portions of fruit or veg (e.g. a banana, an apple, a pear, strawberries, grapes, pineapple pot, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, cucumber sticks)
• A yoghurt
• Some cheese and possibly a cracker
• One treat product e.g.  a packet of crisps, small cake or a biscuit
• Water, milk or juice

Children’s packed lunches should include items from the 5 main food groups;

Bread, Rice, Potatoes, Pasta

These starchy foods are a healthy source of energy. Packed lunches should include 2 or more portions eg pasta salad, sandwich.

Milk and Dairy foods

 These foods provide calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Include 1 portion at lunch eg yoghurt, fromage frais, milk.

Meat, Fish, Eggs, Beans

These foods provide protein for growth. Packed lunches should include 1 portion of these foods eg boiled egg, chicken, tuna, ham as filling in sandwich, mixed bean salad.

Drinks

 Any drinks provided in lunch boxes should only include either plain water, milk (semi-skimmed), unsweetened fresh fruit juice, diluted fresh fruit juice, fruit or dairy based smoothies.

Restricted items

 To ensure consistency and to keep packed lunches in line with food standards for school meals, packed lunches should not contain the following:

• Fizzy / sugary drinks in cartons, bottles or cans (This includes fizzy flavoured water) / Energy drinks
• Full size Chocolate bars
• Sweets
• Chocolate spread / Peanut Butter as a filling for sandwiches
• Chewing gum
• Take away meals e.g. subway, McDonalds
• No nuts or products containing nuts (This includes Nutella bars)