I think it has to be balanced over a days intake. I see nothing wrong with that lunch at all. When I was a kid I remember taking buttered bread to school with a pack of chips to make a sandwich with.

I did notice no fresh fruit or veggies – but it can be hard for parents.

i found the hardest part of lunch was having something that didnt need to be refrigerated – in north qld everything had to be shelf stable in the lunchbox. even a frozen popper wrapped in a teatowel couldnt keep a sandwich cold. I dont know if things are different now, guess i’ll find out in a few years when bub starts school.

I did notice there was no fruit. My son’s lunchbox didn’t look like this, but I’ve also since learned he used to swap items with friends for a Roll-Up as I would not buy them!

Most of what is in there isn’t great- a pop top isn’t even 100% fruit juice, let alone the fact that juice is not really healthy at all, but is a definite sometimes food. Then we have the chocolate Yogo, again, a treat food and the fact that white bread is being used, unless it’s the kind with hidden fibre that’s very bad for you too and has a lot more sugar.

My kids didn’t like sandwiches but were happy to have a salad, which they made themselves. Some Tiny Tim tomatoes, a few lettuce leaves, some cucumber and capsicum sticks and a slice of ham or left-over roast. One or two pieces of fruit and it was done. I felt I was lucky that that was what they wanted.

I tried everything with my youngest and he either brought it back home or threw it in the bin at school. All he would eat was a muesli bar and bottle of water. He preferred to come home and eat. Still to this day I don’t know why he wouldn’t eat at school.

LOL my daughter would not eat a tomato sandwich, no matter how hard I try. I guess it’s seeing what healthy things they do like and incorporating it into their lunch. I usually try those less sugar yoghurt squeezie’s and freeze them so come morning tea, they’ve defrosted. From a shift worker – it is so hard making it work, especially when it comes home again not touched. It would help if the teachers would participate but they are also time conscious.

My kid’s lunchboxes are 95% always filled with healither options. Will always add at least 1 sugary treat (for my 9yo as 4yo kinder is a big NO). But Friday’s, is overal treat day where I will give a nutella wrap or something else. As a reward for hard work all week at school. My 4yo will only get healthy food since kinder is a bit more monitored. Overall, my kids do eat healthy food and everything is in moderation.

Wow it really is amazing how much sugar is in some foods. It really makes you stop and reconsider what you put in.

Healthy lunch boxes are the best but I totally understand that it gets hard because of many factors and that’s ok as long as the kids eat.

At least the kids are getting lunch, sometimes that’s the best parents can do. And plus what kid would eat a tomato sandwich, it would be so soggy by the time they eat it.

Sometimes you just have to pack what you can. I’ve had my days where I’ve packed BBQ shapes and a white roll with cream cheese and a piece of fruit. Most days it’s healthy lunches but it’s good to give them a treat.

My kids very rarely like sandwiches, so I have had to be very inventive over the years. There are so many wonderful options out there. The first lunch actually looks quite depressing.

This is such a difficult task especially with fussy kids

Sometimes we need to bend the rules and gave kids what they will eat.

Fruit juice is full of sugar and a very poor choice. I don’t mind some pre packaged snacks but fruit straps and chocolate dip are not ideal.

My kids school sent home a lunchbox note at the start of prep with some great suggestions and a water only policy. There really is no need for kids to have juices/cordial/soft drinks at school, having a water bottle in their bag sets them up for good habits for life.

As long as kids are not hungry

In our house, it’s 2 pieces of fruit and a snack plus a sandwich for lunch. Always water during the day, and they get a small treat drink with tea.