Lunch boxes are an important source of nutrition but are
often a challenge to prepare, requiring time and creativity. It is easy to fill a lunchbox with too many convenient processed and nutrient lacking items but thankfully many schools are requesting that parents limit the number of treat foods sent to school. With obesity and type 2 diabetes on the rise in children, healthy eating from a young age is highly recommended. The lunch box is responsible for a large portion of daily energy and nutrient requirements in children and adults alike and therefore needs attention. Weekend Food Prep is a good way create health lunch boxes for the whole family.
These mini snack muffins include baby marrows which might seem unusual but it is a great way to add nutrients and flavour without extra calories. Baby marrows are always a part of my grocery shop but with only two of us at home, we do not always get through the full punnet. I have seen various baby marrow (or zucchini) muffin recipes over the years and I always wanted to
Lunch box food safety is an important part of healthy eating as many of the healthy foods and snacks we pack are perishable. As the weather begins to warm up, lunch box food safety is definitely something to factor into lunch meal planning and preparation. For many people, packing fresh, perishable, foods is avoided due to their spoiling nature or the altered taste when eaten warm. These are however the
As brown rice is a wholegrain, it is one of the high fibre carbohydrate containing foods we should be including as part of a nutritious diet. The term ‘well balanced meal’ is no cliche but rather a simplified description of a meal that is nutritionally complete for the complex requirements of our fascinating bodies. The brain needs glucose supplied by unrefined carbs while the muscles need carbs for both fuel
Snack Domes are a twist on energy balls I stumbled upon while using a tablespoon measure to scoop up the mixture to achieve equal size portions. (See the graphic below for this time saving trick). Snack time is often the time when people consume high fat foods with added salt or sugar because it is convenient or in some cases cheaper than the healthier option. People also tend to feel like
This recipe for bran muffins has a low sugar content, making it a baked treat well worth making at home rather than buying muffins from a supermarket or coffee shop. In addition to the high fibre content, you have the freedom to add more nutrients with fruit, nuts or seeds. Muffins can be topped with peanut butter, cottage cheese or hummus but adding a twist with the optional add-ins below makes this a very versatile
Simple healthy snacks are an essential part of a healthy diet. It is important not to undo healthy eating at meal times with excessive snacking on non-nutritious foods. Pinterest is full of ideas but all too often we pin rather than do! Tried & tested from Pinterest, these simple healthy snacks are both nutritious and quick to prepare! It is easy to make the mistake that convenience products and shop bought snacks
As these Cereal fingers are made from iron fortified cereals, they make for an iron rich snack. Iron deficiency results in poor concentration, delayed brain development and fatigue, all of which negatively impacts both learning and physical activity. Lunch boxes should make a significant nutrient contribution to children and adults alike. This nutritious lunch box bake can be made with oats and any combination of breakfast cereals in your pantry. Just remember,
I love chickpeas and therefore I love hummus. Chickpeas are a good source of plant protein and fibre and can be added to many a dish or simply roasted for a healthy snack. Adding chickpeas to soups, stews, curries, salads an roasted vegetables is an easy way to add more fibre to your family meals. Canned chickpeas are a great pantry staple but you can also cook up a large
Basil pesto adds a punch of flavour to any dish but can be expensive with its traditional ingredient of pine nuts. Eaten in large amounts, it would also contribute a lot of excess fat and kilojoules. This is not ideal as it is unlikely to be the main ingredient of a dish but rather an added extra or a dip for snack foods. By combining the main ingredient, being basil,
A tuna sandwich is a healthy lunch box filler for children and adults alike. Making a lunch box for every member of the family is an ideal way to provide good nutrition for the whole family. I often meet moms who prepare perfect lunch boxes for their children but then either skip lunch themselves or opt for a fast food meal. Making family lunch boxes is cost effective and will not take too
The school / work lunch box seems to be a problem for many and a common sabotage area when it comes to health and weight management. Between complaints of a lack of time and inspiration and fussy children, packing a nutritious lunch box seems to be a set back for many. The lunch box is more important that most people give it credit. It can hold 2-3 meals of the
These gluten free pancakes are made with a combination of buckwheat flour and rice flour as alternative to cake flour which contains wheat. These pancakes are a great gluten free starch option for patients with coeliac disease, including those with type one diabetes. While they lack sugar, they also lack fibre and protein. The choice of filling is therefore very important as it needs to make up for this lack in
Popcorn is a popular treat for movie watching, lunch boxes, after school snacking and birthday parties. It does make for a healthier snack alternative to crisps, sweets and chocolates. Homemade popcorn is healthier than store bought and is easy enough to make. It is something kids can learn to make for themselves in a first cooking lesson. Nutritionally speaking, this whole-grain, naturally gluten free snack is high in fibre and