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Peninsula Kids
Home»Health»What makes a healthy lunchbox?
Health

What makes a healthy lunchbox?

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By Sherrie Miller

The summer holidays have come and gone, and we’re now back into routine, embracing the 2019 school year. I hear many Mum’s say at the beginning of each school holidays, “I’m so glad I don’t have to do lunchboxes for the next few weeks!”  It is clear that lunchboxes can be a real headache for some from dealing with fussy kids to trying hard to keep it healthy.

A nude food lunchbox is the best option. Not just for reducing plastic waste, but the more nude, the more likely it’s a whole food. If your child is a picky eater or time is not on your side, we tend to get quite frustrated with lunchboxes, and many end up opting for convenience food, which is not nutritionally ideal for our little growing humans.

What makes a healthy lunchbox? What foods should we consider?

Protein and Good Fats

Two incredibly important nutrients that should be considered when building a healthy lunchbox is protein and fat. Many kids’ lunchboxes lack these two nutrients. Protein is important for muscle strength and growth and fat is essential for brain function. Both protein and fat also keep us feeling full for longer.

Fruit and Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are not only rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, but also fibre. Fibre is needed to keep our bowel movements healthy but also keep our gut bugs happy – the good bacteria – that play many important roles in our body such as reducing inflammation, regulating immunity, nutrient absorption and improving mental health. Fibre also slows down blood sugar spikes, reducing the rollercoaster ride of sugar highs and lows.

Homemade Sweet Treats

Sweet treats are magical moments in life, and there are many ways in which you can add a sweet treat to your child’s lunchbox that have a much healthier impact than the highly processed kind.

Too much sugar is detrimental to your health and it’s so important for people to acknowledge this and make changes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children have no more than 3 teaspoons of added sugar a day in their daily diet. Many kids eat up to 40 teaspoons of sugar a day, as they’re hidden in processed foods.

Some sugars may be naturally occurring such as fruit, grains or lactose but much of it will be added sugar. Looking at the ingredients list will help you determine this. If sugar is listed in the first 3 ingredients or there is more than one type of sugar listed (corn syrup, dextrose, glucose, cane sugar, fruit juice concentrate etc), it is likely to be high in added sugar.

Making homemade sweet treats using whole ingredients and sweetening with natural fruit or honey, is a nice way to add some sweetness to your child’s lunchbox. Fruit is naturally sweet, and if you can get your child to satisfy their sweet tooth with just fruit alone, you’re on a good path. It is recommended that we eat no more than two pieces of fruit a day.

Processed Carbs and Additives

The other problem with many school lunchbox snacks lining the supermarket shelves, is that they are highly processed offering no nutritional value, often cooked in inflammatory seed oils and laden with artificial additives that contribute to behavioural problems, asthma, skin irritations and other health problems. Learn to recognise the numbers on the back of packaged foods and their associated symptoms. There are now many phone apps that can help you with this.

Adding Greens

This is not always an easy feat for many parents, because in most kids’ eyes, green is bad! Encouraging kids to eat their greens has obvious reasons. It reduces inflammation, is rich in minerals such as iron and calcium and boosts immunity to help fight off colds and infections. I know this options is a battle for many, but don’t give up on feeding the greens.

Think Outside the Lunchbox

As we move towards the cooler months, why not consider sending your child to school with a warm lunch in an insulated food jar. There are so many cute and colourful food jars available today and you can fill it with a yummy, nourishing meal. Depending on your child’s level of fussiness, some ideas may include: leftover dinner from the night before, casseroles, fried rice, soup, healing chicken bone broth (add some spelt noodles for a chicken noodle soup) or porridge. Stir some unflavoured collagen powder into the porridge for added protein, some macadamia oil for added fat and top with berries, hemp seeds and a drizzle of raw honey.

What does a Healthy Lunchbox Look Like?

  • Protein (chicken drumstick, tuna, eggs, cheese, chickpeas or red kidney beans to make as a dip)
  • Fat (butter, eggs, cheese, coconut, olives, seeds)
  • Greens (kale chips, celery, cucumber, beans, snow peas, broccoli)
  • Vegies (sweet potato, lettuce, carrot, capsicum, cauliflower – eat them with the dip)
  • Fresh Fruit (berries, cherry tomatoes, mango, banana, apple, plums, peaches)
  • Homemade Sweets (gelatin gummies, muffins, banana bread, bliss balls, fruit jelly, biscuits)

And don’t forget water.

Allow your child to feel like they have control of their lunchbox destiny! Get a Healthy Lunchbox chart emailed to you and have your child choose something from each list on the chart.

Simply email sherriemillernutrition@gmail.com and your free healthy lunchbox chart will be emailed to you.


Sherrie Miller is a qualified Nutritionist with a special interest in gut health. She is passionate about the way in which our digestive health can influence our mental health, skin health and immunity. Sherrie takes the concept of ‘Food is Medicine’ very seriously. You can find out more on instagram @sherriemillernutrition

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If this is your first experience of winter with a baby you might be wondering what you need to do to protect them from the elements. Babywearing is a wonderful start as you each warm the other. You can top that up with hats, mittens and booties but go easy with coats and suits. Rather than thick single garments, add an extra layer or two. Avoid bulky hoods which can restrict free head movement. Keep in mind, as you rug them up, that your body is a wonderful heat bank for your child. Light layers plus protection for the head, hands and feet is the way to go. You can pop “baby legs” leg warmers on to keep exposed legs warmer.

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If this is your first experience of winter with a baby you might be wondering what you need to do to protect them from the elements. Babywearing is a wonderful start as you each warm the other. You can top that up with hats, mittens and booties but go easy with coats and suits. Rather than thick single garments, add an extra layer or two. Avoid bulky hoods which can restrict free head movement. Keep in mind, as you rug them up, that your body is a wonderful heat bank for your child. Light layers plus protection for the head, hands and feet is the way to go. You can pop “baby legs” leg warmers on to keep exposed legs warmer. Read more here: https://peninsulakids.com.au/baby-its-cold-outside/ Or via link to mag in bio. #babyitscoldoutside @peninsulakidsmagazine #lovepeninsulakids
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👀😮 Ooooh..this looks gooooood. Has anyone read the book? Betrayal and revenge come knocking on The Family Next Door this August! The ABC, Screen Australia and VicScreen are pleased to announce the thrilling six-part suburban mystery drama series The Family Next Door will premiere on Sunday 10 August at 8pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview. It’s peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when an enigmatic stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As Isabelle charms her way into her neighbours’ homes and lives, she quickly discovers that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide. How far will her obsessive drive to solve a mystery push her to expose the truth? Based on New York Times bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth’s novel of the same name, this sophisticated and entertaining mystery blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman’s (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. #abciview #sallyhepworth #thefamilynextdoor
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Bring the kids to experience live theatre at Frankston Arts Centre in August!

An instant Australian classic, Beetle by Legs On The Wall tells the story of a child who finds a friend in her backyard; together they embark on an adventure to search for his family, the now elusive Christmas Beetle.

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Bring the kids to experience live theatre at Frankston Arts Centre in August! An instant Australian classic, Beetle by Legs On The Wall tells the story of a child who finds a friend in her backyard; together they embark on an adventure to search for his family, the now elusive Christmas Beetle. The magic of the bush habitat is brought to life through Legs On The Wall’s trademark physical storytelling, and animation created from original artworks by beloved children’s author and illustrator Freya Blackwood. A tale of resilience and hope, Beetle reminds young audiences that there’s an important place in the world for all of us. Reminding us of the delicate balance of the natural world and that all things are connected. This charming, nostalgic and uniquely Australian show invites children and families to join the adventure, encountering larger than life beetles, stick insects, and other bush critters while finding out about the uncanny nature and delicate balance of the bush environment. See it on Friday 22 August at 11am or 6pm at Frankston Arts Centre. Tickets are available at thefac.com.au or by calling 03 9784 1060. #whatson #fac #kidstheatre #frankstonartscentre #beetlebylegsonthewall @the_fac
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Epson launches four new EcoTank printers as sales top 100 million and the company remains number one in large ink tank printer sales.

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Epson launches four new EcoTank printers as sales top 100 million and the company remains number one in large ink tank printer sales. EcoTank inkjet printers are world leaders in providing improved productivity for homes and small businesses for a number of reasons. Firstly, they come with up to two years’ worth of ink in the box, so you don’t need to worry about suddenly running out or constantly ordering replacements. This also means less user intervention due to fewer replaceable parts, giving you back time to invest in yourself and your business. There is zero warm-up time and a very fast first page out time with EcoTank printers and this, combined with their unique Heat-Free Technology, saves you time, energy, money and allows you greater flexibility for your home or small business. The new Epson EcoTank ET-4950, ET-3950, ET-3900 and ET-2950 printers come with a 24 month EcoTank Back to Base Warranty (12 month standard express warranty and an bonus additional 12 months upon registration) and are available now from https://www.epson.com.au/ecotank/, and all authorised Epson stockists. #epsonecotank #ad @epsonaust @Epson
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Elmo’s Circus Dream, a dazzling new live stage spectacular making its world premiere at Caulfield Racecourse these upcoming July School Holidays from June 27th to August 3rd, 2025.

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Elmo’s Circus Dream, a dazzling new live stage spectacular making its world premiere at Caulfield Racecourse these upcoming July School Holidays from June 27th to August 3rd, 2025. Tickets and information: https://www.sesamestreetcircus.com.au/ #sesamestreetcircus @sesamestreetcircus @cavanaghpr
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❄️ Winter is here! And along with it, a fresh edition on Peninsula Kids magazine. Enjoy flipping through the pages that celebrate the season’s highlights so that you can make the most of the frostier months with your loved ones. 🥰 🌬️ Link to read in bio ———————————————————————————— #peninsulakids #peninsulakidsmagazine #winter #lovepeninsulakids #mpgrown #local #pregnnacyandbaby #creative #education #health #spotlight #recipes
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