Back to School
4th September 2019
4th September 2019
Children have returned to school this week. Forgotten some essentials for the new term? Don’t fret! From stationery to fashions and gadgets to gizmos, there’s plenty in-store at The Pantiles to ensure your little ones are kitted out for autumn.
Part of the return to school includes lunch preparation – which can be a chore! Are you continually looking for ways to make children’s food more interesting and fun? We’ve got some top tips for back to school lunches in this week’s blog:
Children get bored of having the same lunch each day, so planning in advance will make it easier for you and more exciting for them. Use a planning chart, calendar or diary to keep track of each day or week and try to alternate between different sandwiches, salads, snacks and fruit and veg.
Get creative and make lunchtimes fun by cutting food into different shapes and characters, write messages on banana skins or orange peels, wrap food in colourful designs and put jokes, stories or drawings into the box too. Head to Trevor Mottram in The Pantiles for their range of cutters, food wraps and containers.
Ensure that all perishable foods, such as yoghurts, are kept fresh by covering them well. Keep them cool by including a bottle of frozen water in the lunchbox.
If your little one has a little appetite, pack half a sandwich instead of a whole one and supplement it with healthy snacks. It’s a good idea to check that the ingredients are easy to eat too. If anything inside is too sticky, dry or spicy, that could put them off eating it.
Children can get easily distracted and may not finish their lunch. Bring some excitement to lunch time by giving them something to look forward to. By adding a small chocolate bar or bag of sweets to their lunch box once a week, this can act as a reward and an incentive to them to keep eating their lunch each day. The Pantiles’ eateries and cafes have a range of sweet treats just right for the job!
Make sure your child’s lunchbox is labelled with their name, so it doesn’t get mixed up with anyone else’s. You could also ask your children to decorate their own lunch box, helping them demonstrate their creative flair and be proud to carry their creation to school!.
With these tips and a wealth of tasty ideas at The Pantiles’ stores, lunch time need never be dull again!