Let your child make their own school lunch boxes this September!

Let kids make their own school lunches!

It's almost the time of year for back to school. I am challenging the children of the nation to make their own school lunch boxes this September.

Parents, listen up!

This does not have to mean that they will be bringing crisp sandwiches and jellies with them everyday of the week. Your role will be to provide the food that you want your children to pop in their lunch box. Allow your children to make their own sandwiches with the food you provided. Or if they're not into sandwiches, allow them to make a picky lunch or whatever it is that they are willing to eat. See below for suggestions.

(When you’re taking on this challenge - follow the Division of Responsibility in Feeding strategy, developed by feeding guru Ellyn Satter - read more about it here so your kids don’t go to school with a lunchbox packed full of sweets!)

Why is it a good idea for my child to make their own school lunch?

- basically, if your child makes their own school lunch, the chances of them actually eating it are much higher. I know this because this is what happens in my house on a daily basis from September. I have not made a school lunch for Charlie for the last six years. He's now going into 6th class. And in those six years, he has made his school lunch everyday, and nine times out of the 10, he has eaten it because it contains no surprises for him. It has food that he likes.

- it means I don’t have to do this job every day and leaves me time for other things

- it's teaching him about food

- it allows him some independence in the kitchen.

What if my child eats the same school lunch every day?

If your child brings the same school lunch day in and day out, don't stress. You can offer additional nutrition at other times of the day, either at breakfast time and/or when they come home from school or at dinner time. So Charlie brings pretty much the same lunch into school most days. But he generally eats it. It's packed full of protein from the tuna or chicken sandwich to keep him full and it gives him the energy that he needs for school.

So, get your kids practicing. Let them get on the back-to-school lunch box making bandwagon! And enjoy all that extra time you’re going to have to yourself!