Brooke Evans-Butler is passionate about telling stories. As a freelance journalist, two days are never the same as she gets to write across various topics including travel, health, lifestyle, home improvement and parenting. When she’s not working on a story, she’ll be enjoying time with her favourite people and constant sources of inspiration – her two sons.
Brooke Evans-ButlerFreelance Journalist
A frustrating part of being a school mum or dad is when you lovingly pack your child’s lunch, only to find it hasn’t been eaten at the end of the day.
Luckily, if your kids are getting bored with the same boring sandwiches, there are lots of yummy (and easy-to-make) options that the kids will actually eat.
Sausage rolls
Homemade sausage rolls, made with good-quality pork mince, are so much yummier that the ones you buy from the frozen food section. You can also hide lots of vegetables by adding finely grated carrot, onion and zucchini.
Meatballs
This Friday-night favourite will also be a hit at school. Accompany some meatballs with penne or spiral pasta, as this will be much easier to handle at school than spaghetti. Or if your child isn’t a pasta fan, meatballs are a great option with a side salad.
Slow-cooker favourites
Buy your child a good quality thermos, and suddenly school lunch became much more varied (especially leading into the cooler months). A great advantage of the slow-cooker for busy parents is the slow-cooker can cook up your family favourites in bulk; so there will be plenty of leftovers for your child’s lunchbox. Use the slow-cooker to make big batches of pulled pork, casserole or curry. All are warming, yummy options for the school lunchbox (and your work lunch), that will keep the family feeling full and satisfied until home time.
Stir-fry
Again, this is a great option if you buy your child a good-quality thermos; and packing a stir-fry for lunch is a great way to encourage your child to eat some extra vegetables during the day. If your children are not stir-fry fans, fried-rice (with lots of veggies) is also a great option for the lunchbox.
Lunchbox nachos
Want to use leftover cooked pork or beef mince? Stir through some salsa and send some of the minced meat in a container along with a side of tortilla chips, cheese, cherry tomatoes and other assorted vegetables or salad of your child’s choosing. They are the perfect ‘on-the-go’ nachos.
The bento box
A bento box is the perfect way to make any leftovers look fun (and to get your child to eat a variety of foods). Include meats, fruits, vegetables, cheese, crackers, bliss balls or other healthy snacks. Your child might not eat everything in the bento box, but it does give them the opportunity to have lots of choice for lunch, so it might be a great option if you have a fussy eater.
*Note: Ensure you check with your local school about any restrictions they may have on what your child can bring to school for their lunch due to allergies, such as eggs or nuts.
