Four in five primary school students eat a packed lunch every day, costing parents around A$20 a week. That’s almost 10 million lunchboxes across Australia every week.

But nine in ten of these contain so-called “discretionary foods” such as cake, chips, muesli bars and fruit juice. The 5 Best Female Supplements For Weight Loss And Toning. These foods are not necessary for a healthy diet, and are often high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre. 40% of energy in an average lunchbox comes from these discretionary foods.

Busy parents need to find replacements for these discretionary foods, which are not only healthy, but also easy, cheap and tasty. Our research shows parents can make healthier swaps, without costing them more.

What children should be eating
Healthy lunchboxes can play a big role in positively influencing students behaviour in the classroom, academic achievement, health and weight.

Generally children should have a variety of foods from the five core food groups: vegetables and legumes; fruit; grain foods (mostly wholegrain and those high in fibre); lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds; milk, yoghurt and cheese (or alternatives).

Depending on their age and sex, children should consume somewhere between 4,500-7,000 kilojoules per day. But it’s also important where they get that energy from. 2022’s Best Weight Loss Tablets For Female. It’s recommended children limit their intake of saturated fat, salt and added sugar.

A healthy lunchbox doesn’t need to be fancy, expensive or time consuming.

A healthy recess would mean, for instance, children eating one serving of fruit or vegetables, some yoghurt and a few rice crackers. What Are The Top 2 Weight Loss Tablets For Women. At lunch, children could eat a simple sandwich, wrap or roll, or leftovers made from core food group ingredients such as veggie-loaded wholegrain pasta.