The perfect time to kick start healthy eating

Back to school is a good time to set children on the right path to a lifetime of good eating – and parents can also use the opportunity to practice what they preach.

Portland District Health dietitian Alecia Watson says Healthy Lunchbox Week from February 5-11, an initiative of Nutrition Australia, is a timely reminder to inspire Australian families to create healthy and enjoyable lunchboxes.

Ms Watson said that including something from the different food groups is important. “A healthy, balanced lunchbox includes a variety of foods from the five food groups – grains, veggies, fruit, dairy and alternatives, meat/protein,” she said.

She also encourages children – and their parents – to have water as their main drink and to limit intake of soft drink, juice or cordial.

Children consume about 30 per cent of their daily food intake at school, mostly from the contents of their lunchbox.

Ms Watson said what children eat during their day at school plays a crucial role in their learning and development. “It’s what you get used to,” she said. “If you’re used to unhealthy foods and drinks as a child, it’s much harder to break those habits as an adult.”

She encouraged parents to “practice what you preach”. “If children see parents doing what they’re expected to do, it instils a positive message.”

Healthy Lunchbox Week aims to inspire healthy lunchbox ideas and recipes, inform a healthy lunchbox balance across core food groups and raise awareness of lunchbox food hygiene and safety.

Some tips include not trying too many new foods and packing something you know they will eat if including a new choice.

Parents are also advised not to pack too much food. “A lunchbox full of food can be very overwhelming for young children; be realistic with what your child can eat and include them in packing their own lunchbox.”