Lunchtime Menu and Packed Lunch Guidance

The aim of these guidelines is to ensure that all packed lunches brought from home provide children with healthy and nutritious food that is similar to food served in schools, which is regulated by national standards. 

We want packed lunches to provide energy and nutrients to ensure children are alert and can maximise their learning time during the  afternoon. We also want there to be consistency between the quality of school lunches and packed lunches. 

What packed lunches should include? 

·        at least one portion of fresh fruit and one portion of fresh vegetables every day such as an apple, grapes, a banana, an orange, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, sliced peppers 

·        unprocessed meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein (e.g. seeds, lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus and falafel) every day

·        oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel at least once every three weeks

·        a starchy food such as any type of bread, pasta, rice - wholemeal or half and half couscous, noodles, potatoes every day

·        dairy food such as milk, cheese, yoghurt or custard every day

·        water and cups are provided by school. You might also include a drink of plain milk or 150ml of fresh, unsweetened fruit juice

What packed lunches should not include: 

·        highly processed meat/pastry products such as; sausage rolls, scotch eggs, pepperami, pasties pies and sausages

·        ultra processed foods such as, Lunchables and Dairylea Dunkables 

·        snacks such as crisps or cheddars

·        cakes and biscuits

·        These should only be included very occasionally 

What packed lunches must not include: 

·        nuts – including peanut butter and Nutella – because of the life threatening risk to any other child who may have a severe allergy

·        confectionery such as chocolate bars and sweets (fruit strings/winders are considered to be sweets)

·        fizzy drinks and energy drinks 

The attached poster is a handy guide to how to make a nutritional packed lunch. We hope you find this guidance useful in helping you to prepare healthy and nutritious packed lunches for your children.