Proper nourishment at every meal is critical, says naturopath Georgia Harding. Photo: Getty
One British parent recently sent their child to school with a “cold McDonald’s Happy Meal” for lunch.
It’s a situation that would naturally horrify many parents, including Australia’s leading child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.
“The sole source of energy for a child’s brain is glucose and children who don’t get enough good food to eat not only can’t learn but also are at risk for common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression,” he says.
Naturopath, mum and author Georgia Harding from Well Nourished, who created an eBook of inspiring lunch box ideas to help parents create a variety of delicious and nutritious lunch boxes, says that because children grow and develop at such a rapid rate, proper nourishment at every meal is critical.
“Every mouthful needs to count nutritionally, especially at lunchtime.”
According to Ms Harding a child consumes over 3000 school lunches.
“The perfect lunch box should include protein (unprocessed meat, seeds, legumes), good fats (avocado, fish, olives) and complex carbohydrate (fruit, vegetables and whole grains) to provide a nutritional balanced, sustained source of energy,” Ms Harding says.
But what’s not in a lunch box is equally important.
“A pick-a-packet style school lunch does not support learning or the long-term health of your kids,” she says.
So what are the obstacles to creating the perfect lunch box?
Mum of six Madeleine West has some handy lunch box tips for you. Photo: Getty
For Ms Harding and former Neighbours star Madeleine West, the No.1 reason is ‘time’.
“As a society we are more time-poor than ever, and which parent hasn’t found themselves tearing pantry and fridge to shreds, desperate to find something to stuff their progenies various Dora/Shopkins/Batman-themed lunchtime Tupperware?” says Ms West, who has six children with Vue de monde chef Shannon Bennett.
“When the clock is ticking, sometimes you will use anything! Even if it tastes faintly of cardboard with the mouth feel of shoe leather.”
She adds that “organisation is king and practicality is queen” to getting that lunch wrapped and packed (and out the front door!) but “that means nothing if kids won’t eat it”.
Here are some tips from Ms West, who has been in the lunch box trenches for seven years, and will be for another 15.
Ms Harding adds: “I don’t believe that fresh produce is more expensive than processed, packaged foods because you just can’t put a price on health.”