| For parents, providing your kids with healthy, | | | | though).7. Cordial or fizzy drinks -- why not try* |
| nutritional lunches that they find interesting can be | | | | Water is the best option to add to any lunch box. |
| quite a challenge. The "if it is good for you then it | | | | * Dairy, soy or rice milk are also good |
| must be boring" mentality makes this particularly | | | | alternatives.8. Chocolate spreads -- why not try* |
| challenging and you have such favorites as lollies, | | | | Sesame seed spread (tahini). |
| sweets and fizzy drinks to compete with.Don't | | | | * Humous. |
| despair, it can be done and here are 13 | | | | * Dip such as yoghurt, avocado or one that you |
| alternatives to get you started. Instead of...1. High | | | | make yourself, dipping for example, pitta bread or |
| fat savoury biscuits -- why not try* Plain dry | | | | cut up vegetables.9. Lollies / sweets -- why not |
| crackers, rice cakes, corn thins or Scottish | | | | try* Dried fruit, nuts and raisins. |
| oatcakes. | | | | * Make a nibbles bag with a variety of nuts and |
| * Raw carrots or celery cut into small pieces are | | | | dried fruit and add sesame, pumpkin and |
| also an excellent choice.2. Pies, pastry or sausage | | | | sunflower seeds.10. Chips / crisps or hot chips -- |
| rolls -- why not try* Meat or cheese sandwiches | | | | why not try* Hot homemade soups with the |
| or pasta with mince beef sauces (you can buy | | | | addition of sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds. |
| wheat/gluten free bread and pasta if required). | | | | * Pecan nuts, almonds and flax seed are all great |
| * Tuna and sweetcorn. | | | | snacks as they are high in essential fatty acids |
| * Brown rice (or white) with tuna and roasted | | | | and are best eaten raw (cooking them can |
| vegetables. | | | | destroy the essential fatty acid component).The |
| * Falafel (Lebanese delicacy made from chick | | | | best way to encourage your children to eat these |
| peas).3. Processed meats such as frankfurters, | | | | is to add them to soups as an alternative to |
| salami or other -- why not try* Mince burger | | | | croutons and to sprinkle them on yoghurt and |
| (home made), lentil burgers or bean burgers. | | | | cereal/muesli in the morning.11. Fruit leather straps |
| * Leftovers from main meals. | | | | - why not try* If you have your own fruit drier, |
| * Quality ham (e.g. Virginia) or cooked bacon, | | | | then you can dry the fruit yourself. |
| which has been grilled, and the fat/rind removed. | | | | * Fresh fruit, plain dried fruit e.g. sultanas, dried |
| * Quality sausages that are mostly meat and not | | | | apricots, mixed nuts, 100% fruit bars.12. Donuts -- |
| too fatty (gluten free sausages are a great | | | | why not try* Raisin bread (you can buy wheat |
| alternative if you can find them).4. Biscuits (cream | | | | free raisin bread if required). |
| filled or chocolate) -- why not try* Crackers or | | | | * Muffins. |
| plain sweet biscuits, oatcakes, rice crackers or | | | | * Flapjacks. |
| rice cakes.You can make these interesting by | | | | * Scottish oatcakes with a banana. |
| having different topics like tuna and sweet corn or | | | | * Tuna and sweetcorn.13. Potato crisps, corn |
| avocado (too much avocado may be regarded as | | | | chips, or similar snack food - why not tryRice |
| fattening).5. Chocolate / candy bars - why not | | | | crackers, or rice cakes with a homemade dip or |
| try* Cheese cubes or dried fruit or yoghurt with | | | | spread, or a bought one as long as it has a low |
| fresh fruit to add to it. | | | | fat content.Helen Thompson is a qualified child |
| * Dairy products may make you feel bloated, so | | | | care worker (Nursery Nurse) and Brain Gym |
| sheep's or goat's yogurt make a great alternative | | | | consultant who has spent many years working |
| to cows yoghurt and have a different texture | | | | with children aged between 0 - 8 years. Helen |
| and taste. They are less bulky and easier to | | | | aims to provide busy parents, carers and |
| digest).6. Muesli bars and breakfast bars (these | | | | teachers with fun and educational activities for |
| are often full of sugar and preservatives) -- why | | | | children to develop their creativity.Her website at |
| not try* Fresh fruit such as grapes, melon cubes, | | | | includes recipes, craft activities and more. To be |
| oranges or mandarins/satsumas. | | | | kept informed of new additions to the site, please |
| * Nut muesli bars (check the ingredients first | | | | subscribe to her newsletter. |