Mum There Is an Herb in My Lunchbox

If you have got a child returning to school or starting in September then you are probably already trying to think of inventive ways to get healthy foods into their lunchbox.

And it is not an easy task, especially when school dinners look so appetising and naughty. How can a ham sandwich beat Smile Faces, beans and sausages?

Well, I have chosen to take on the daunting task of creating an enticing lunchbox for my oldest, but this year I plan to be super-inventive and add some of my home grown herbs to the mix.

Now you may remember my post last week about which herbs are safe and not safe for children [insert link to ‘How to grow an herb garden with your kids’]. Bearing this in mind, I have looked high and low for healthy lunchbox recipes that contain herbs which are safe and beneficial to your kids.

Pasta with herbs – using whole-wheat or semolina pasta, add some tomato puree and olive oil and season with thyme and oregano.
Generally pasta is a great way to fill your child’s lunchbox so why not get inventive with the sauces you use to keep it interesting.
Herbed cauliflower soup – store it in a flask and your kids can enjoy something warm in their lunch box during the winter months. To make all you need is one cauliflower head, one big potato, a sweet onion, veggie broth, soy milk, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, rosemary, thyme, saffron oregano and garlic.
Tuna and radish tortilla wraps – even if your kids don’t like radishes, you can still have fun with the rest of these ingredients – tuna, radishes, cucumber, garlic, Greek yoghurt, gem lettuce, sprigs of mint and tortillas.
Potato salad – grab some potatoes, white wine vinegar, olive oil, green onions, parsley, salt, pepper, tarragon and slice almonds (optional) and this is great for a hot day.
Chicken chill burritos – as long as you secure these in a food bag so they don’t leak all over their lunchbox, this tasty snack will certainly fill them up at lunchtime. To make you’ll need vegetable oil, ground chicken, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chilli powder, tortillas and cheese.
Beef sausage and couscous salad - as long as you don’t fry your sausages, this can remain relatively healthy. To make you’ll need lean beef sausages, couscous, Moroccan seasoning, lemon rind, water, chickpeas, spinach, onions, lemon juice and coriander leaves.

Sure you can add in the usual of sandwiches (cheese, ham, chicken or beef topped with lettuce and tomatoes); homemade cakes (fruit oat bars and cakes) and fruit smoothies (these are a sneaky way of getting fruit and veg into your child’s diet). But I strongly suggest coming up with a 2 week lunch plan that allows them to have something different every day so they don’t get bored.

And this is not all…

Below I have listed some healthy snacks you can add to the mix.

Other foods to consider:

Dips – carrot sticks, cucumber, peppers, celery or breadsticks… mix some thyme or oregano into Greek yoghurt to create a tasty dip. Alternatively you can make a bean dip using green beans, baked beans, plain yoghurt and parsley.
Brekky bars – looks like a cake but contains coconut, pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, sultanas and dried apricots
Trail mix – this is great if your kids like nuts. All you need is plain popcorn, mini pretzels, dried fruit and mixed nuts
Dried fruit – apples, pineapples, banana and apricots are popular in my house
Plain popcorn – as long as its plain this can make a filling addition to their lunchbox
Fruit – bananas, apples, pears, satsumas, grapes or oranges

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