Like adults, kids also get bored if they have to eat the same kind of food every day. A healthy lunch box should contain foods that are made using fruits or vegetables, grams, pulses and the like. Unfortunately, many kids go to school, carrying lunchboxes filled with foods that are too high on fats, salts or sugars. Processed snacks, chocolates and drinks are easy to pack and children seem to enjoy them, but they are far from healthy. But, it is not easy to get kids to eat healthy foods. You need to combine healthy ingredients with creative presentation. Here are a few great ideas for a healthy lunch box:

• Include fruits and make sure that your kids enjoy them. No kid likes to eat a whole apple or pear. To them, it doesn’t seem worth the effort. So, cut fruits into bite sized bits and make a colorful fruit salad. Stuffed apples make a great addition to your kid’s lunch. Simply core an apple and fill it with peanut butter or any other filling of your choice.

• Try different kinds of bread. Instead of regular bread, use pita bread or hot dog rolls or hamburger buns to make sandwiches. You can also make sandwiches and cut them into different shapes like circles or triangles or heart shape using a cookie cutter. Your kids will enjoy tiny and delectable sandwiches.

• If you are planning to pack a salad for your child’s lunch, make sure it doesn’t get soggy. It is a good idea to pack the salad dressing separately.

• You can make your own pizzas using pita bread. Just spread tomato ketchup and grated cheese over it. Then add toppings like vegetables, olives, chicken or meat. It is healthy and tastes great. Your kids will surely love it.

• On winter days, everyone appreciates something warm and your child is no exception. Include a thermos of a warm homemade soup with your child’s lunch. When the weather is warm, squeeze some fresh juice and freeze it at night. Then pack the bottle with your child’s lunch. He will appreciate the refreshment that the cool juice offers.

• Experiment with different kinds of omelets. You can make a tasty mushroom omelet by simply adding cooked and chopped mushrooms to a beaten egg. Spanish omelets are a complete meal in itself. Finely chop some potatoes and onions. Sauté them in a pan. Add small pieces of bacon. Cook until golden brown. Pour in some milk and add beaten eggs. Pour onto a flat pan to make an omelet.

• Chicken or tuna sandwiches are an all time favorite with kids. Cook and shred the chicken or tuna. Mix this with mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, chili sauce and a dash of lemon juice. Spread this mixture onto bread and add sliced tomatoes or cucumber if you wish.

• Pack a Mexican style lunch with salsa and tortilla chips. You can make salsa easily by combining tomatoes with green chilies, sliced onion, fresh chopped cilantro, a little pepper, 2-3 cloves of grails and some salt and lime juice. Pack this along with store brought tortilla chips.

• Pasta also makes great lunch box meals. Combine cooked pasta with broccoli, shredded chicken, spring onions and sweet corn. Make dressing using vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce and honey. Mix it with the pasta and you have a healthy, filling meal for your kid.

• Decorate cupcakes with colored frosting to make it look attractive and tasty.

• Avoid processed foods as they contain too much sugar, salts and fats. This is hardly the definition of a healthy meal.

Mark Perry

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