New campaign to encourage children and families to enjoy a healthier packed lunch

Our new campaign is encouraging school children in Suffolk to overhaul their packed lunches to ensure they are enjoying a healthier meal in the middle of the day.

Children are often missing important foods from their lunchboxes which would give them the nutritious fuel to aid their learning and young people are also eating too many foods that are high in fat and sugar.

We are working with schools across the county to deliver the campaign and educate children and their families on making balanced and nutritional packed lunches. Our advice is to include one item of food from six key groups including starchy carbohydrates (wholemeal breads, pasta or brown rice), protein (such as eggs, chicken and tuna), dairy (yoghurt, cream cheese) fruit, vegetables and fluids – either water or milk.

Ali Clements, Live Well Suffolk’s Schools and Young Peoples Services Coordinator, said: “The meals children eat have a huge impact on their energy levels and concentration at school. That’s why it’s so important for them to enjoy a balanced lunch, so they are alert and engaged throughout the day.

“With this campaign we want to inspire and challenge children and families across the county to think twice about what goes into their lunchbox. As well as making sure staples such as fruit and vegetables are included, it’s also important to limit the amount of high fat and high sugar foods such as crisps, chocolate, biscuits and fizzy drinks so they’re only occasional treats rather than something they eat every day.”

For more information about our healthy packed lunch campaign or for some delicious lunchtime recipe ideas, click here or call us on 01473 229292.