How to make a killer packed lunch for a school coach trip

Where school dinners and packed lunches are notoriously boring they do not have to be with there being so many ways to be creative when it comes to feeding children.

When sending your child off for the day at a school trip you want to make sure their lunch mirrors the excitement of the trip, not sending them away with soggy sandwiches and yogurts that quickly become warm and smelly.

Not only do foods like this end up going in the bin they leave you child as hungry as your pockets, wasting your time as well as your money. Having been chauffeuring children to school trips for many years we have seen our fair share of good, great and just awful packed lunches, understanding what products entice children and keep them energised on an educational excursion.

Healthy = Happy

According to the NHS a balanced packed lunch should contain:

starchy foods ?these are bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, and others
protein foods ?including meat, fish, eggs, beans, and others
a dairy item ?this could be cheese or a yoghurt
vegetables or salad, and a portion of fruit

Where ham and mustard is not a sandwich to be knocked children of this day and age now enjoy healthy food, with nuts and seeds being a permanent fixture in the family snack drawer.

By replacing yoghurt or a packet of crisps with some exotic foods to graze on you could encourage a happy coach journey.

Get creative with colours

There is nothing more boring than being presented with a beige meal, especially if your classmates are stuffing all the colours of the rainbow in their mouths. Here are some colourful foods you could include in your child? lunchbox:

Carrot sticks
Celery
Bananas
Oranges
Beetroot salad

Thirst-quenchers

With school trips tending to be quite active, outdoorsy occasions it is essential that you do not encourage a sugar crash. We suggest you steer clear of sugary drinks and go for one of these healthy options: