Do your little ones tend to get bored with the same old sarnies? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!  Below are some healthy suggestions that we’ve gathered from the experts to help you jazz up their lunchboxes with the right bites (and a few special treats), designed to keep them alert and full all afternoon. Perfect to get them back on track after a long summer off school!

• Carb up - to keep them fuller for longer, base the main lunchbox item on foods like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. Choose wholegrain wherever you can.
• DIY – it could get a little messy, but mealtimes can be more fun for kids when they get to make them, for example wraps with pots of fillings, or dipping foods.
• Freeze for variety - keep a small selection of different types of bread in the freezer so you have a variety of options – like bagels and muffins, pittas and wraps, chapati, granary, wholemeal and multigrain.
• Cut back on fat – select lower-fat sandwich fillings, e.g. lean meats (such as chicken or turkey), fish (tuna or salmon), low-fat spread, reduced-fat cream cheese etc. Try to avoid using mayonnaise – not only is it unhealthy but it also makes for a soggy sandwich designed to fall apart by lunchtime!
• Mix it up - If your child isn’t keen on wholegrain, try making a sandwich from 1 slice of white bread and 1 slice of brown bread.
• 5 A Day - Cherry tomatoes, or sticks of carrot, cucumber, celery and peppers all count towards their 5 A Day. Adding a small pot of reduced-fat hummus or other tasty dips may help with getting kids to eat vegetables.  Try adding salad to sandwiches and wraps too!  If you can get them into the habit of trying different vegetables early on, it will make your life a lot easier in the long run!
• Say Cheese! – While an important source of calcium and other goodies, most cheeses tend to be high in fat and salt, so opt for stronger-tasting ones – and use less of it – or try reduced-fat varieties.
• Cut down on crisps – we know that most children love crisps, and the occasional treat will do no harm, but try reducing the number of times you add them to their lunchbox, and swap for plain popcorn or rice cakes instead.
• Bite-sized fruit – add some chopped apple, peeled satsuma segments, mango, strawberries, blueberries, halved grapes or watermelon chunks to make it easier for them to eat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to stop it from going brown. 

• Sweet treats – swap out fruit bars, cakes, chocolates, cereal bars and biscuits for dried fruit (raisins, sultanas and dried apricots), malt loaf or fruited teacakes. Just remember to keep dried fruit to mealtimes as it can be bad for teeth.
• Yoghurts: go low-fat and lower-sugar – fromage frais is a delicious sweet snack, or try plain yoghurt and add your own fruit. 
• Get them involved - Get your kids involved in preparing and choosing what goes in their lunchbox. They are more likely to eat it if they helped make it.
• Remember that variety is the spice of life – and lunch! Be adventurous and get creative to mix up what goes in their lunchbox. Keeping them guessing with healthier ideas will keep them interested and more open to trying new things. We appreciate that it can be super time consuming, but it’s time well spent, since instilling these healthy habits from a young age is so beneficial.
• Last but not least…don’t forget to check out Babyshop’s range of fun lunchboxes with cool designs and handy storage compartments to add to the overall fun and excitement!