Making lunch and packing a lunchbox for your children? It need not be chore if you use these lunch hacks.
Mention lunch and lunchboxes around parents and you’re likely to hear a few sighs and some despairing groans. You’re also likely to spark a lively session of tip-swapping as moms and dads share what works for their children and what doesn’t.
lunch hacks
How you pack a lunch can be as important as what you pack.
• Keeping food separate is a good idea. Try using silicone cupcake moulds to keep berries, grapes or nuts from rolling around the lunchbox. You can also use stackable lunchboxes, or those with built-in compartments.
• Use airtight containers so that food stays fresh, especially if it’s made the night before.
• If you’re packing finger food, include a plastic or wooden fork, or a toothpick. You can also include a slightly damp cloth or wet wipe in a sandwich bag.
• Some foods can spoil quickly, so keep lunches fresh by using a mini cooler bag, or including an ice pack in the lunch. A DIY ice pack idea is to soak a kitchen sponge in water, place in a plastic bag, seal and freeze.
A lunch containing food that is too complicated, takes too long to eat, spoils quickly or is too messy just won’t be eaten.
• Use cherry tomatoes instead of cutting up big tomatoes.
• Avoid using foods that are going to oxidise or go brown, like avocado and lettuce. If you want to include avocado, rub some lemon juice over it.
• Keep any seasoning or salad dressing separate.
• If you cut up an apple, slice it down each side, and while it is still in its shape, place an elastic band around it.
• Score orange skins by tracing a knife around the orange a few times, so that it’s easy to peel.
• Using tomato on sandwiches? Place slices between the ham and cheese, or other ingredients, to stop the bread from going soggy.
Keeping up the interest levels in lunch can help ensure children eat (almost) everything.
• Cut sandwiches into fun shapes.
• Try using wraps or pita pockets as a substitute for bread.
• You don’t need to overwhelm children with too much choice in their lunch, but packing a few different foods, or packing something different every day or two, can help.
Happy hummus
- fruit
strawberries, blueberries, grapes, tomatoes, date balls. - dairy
Babybel cheese, Kiri chees, gouda cheese. - protein
droëwors, biltong - carbs
hummus, cracker bread - vegetables
carrots, cucumber, mangetout
Wrap it up
- fruit
naartjie, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, avo, tomato. - dairy
full cream yoghurt mixed with berries. - protein
salmon, tuna, chicken. - carbs
wrap, pita. - vegetables
carrots, broccoli, mangetout.
Summer seeds
- fruit
- watermelon, apple, pear, mango strips, tomato, olives.
- dairy
feta cheese. - protein
biltong, droëwors, seeds, egg. - carbs
seed bread, sweet potato bread. - vegetables
beans, cucumber, mint, parsley, coriander, basil.
lunch basics
Make yourself a lunch-packing station in your fridge. Use a deep tray and some spare containers to store all your lunch foods. When it’s time to make lunch, you can pull this out. Everything is on hand so you don’t forget anything, and you can see if you’re running low on anything in time to stock up.
Create an area in your pantry or cupboard for all the lunch basics you will need, from containers to staples. Stock up on seasonal veggies and keep your fruit bowl overflowing with colour and variety.
Fridge
Butter, milk, yoghurt, cream cheese, hard cheese (free of colourants), feta, eggs, cold meats and sausages, mayo, tahini, pesto, hummus, tzatziki, salad ingredients, veggies tofu, falafel, dolmades, dinner leftovers.
Freezer
Berries, bananas, bagels (cut in half), wraps, croissants, muffins, ready-made pastry, chicken fillets, bacon, mince, vegan and vegetarian nuggets and patties.
Cupboard
Vinegar, mustard, olive oil, soy sauce, peanut butter (without sugar), canned lentils, tins of chickpeas and beans, tins/packets of tuna, salmon and sardines, couscous, quinoa, brown rice crackers, lentil chips, olives, gherkins, nuts, seeds, trail mix, Herbimare (a natural low-salt seasoning).
Bread bin
Wholewheat bread, seeded rolls, pita bread, bagels, low-carb loaf, English muffins.
Visuals and inspiration courtesy of Vanessa Gardner of mycrunchbox.com
This Cape Town mother of three was increasingly frustrated with the daily chore of preparing lunchboxes that were interesting, fun and nutritionally balanced. So she created a lunchbox that could hold a variety of snacks, each in its own separate space, and in the correct portion size. “It is an unassailable fact that nutrition enables learning. Children need a varied and balanced diet, while parents strive for convenience and simplicity.” She says.
