It's easy to get stuck in a rut with lunchboxes, especially if children insist on having the same sandwich filling day after day. Changing a few items in a lunchbox over the course of a week can help to provide a range of important nutrients and encourage children to try new foods.

With a little careful planning, a healthy lunchbox can be prepared in a few minutes. Don't forget that the contents of a lunchbox have to survive until the middle of the day and by that time, may have been dropped a few times! there are many novelty lunchboxes and bags to choose from, but remember a plain plastic box does the job just as well.

	Sandwiches are an easy choice for a packed lunch.  To give a little variety, try different breads and rolls such as wholemeal, granary, poppy seed, sesame seed, pitta bread, bagels and baps.  Try some breadsticks or crackers too.
	For sandwich fillings include ham, turkey, chicken, fish, egg, banana, Edam, mozzarella or cottage cheese.  Add plenty of salad, but avoid too much mayonnaise or salad cream as these are high in fat.
	Home-made pasta and rice salads are ideal for packed lunches.
	Included some chopped raw vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, peppers or cherry tomatoes.
	An apple a day can soon become boring so include a variety of fruit.  choose fruits that are in season as this will be more economical.  Include a pot of fruit salad as a change to a whole fruit.  try some dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, mango or apricots.
	For a dessert include milk-bases puddings such as yoghurt, fromage frais, a small pot of custard or mousse.
	Choose fruit scones, pancakes or fruit loaf as healthier alternatives to sweets and chocolate.  Use fun-sized chocolate bars but encourage children to keep these for lunchtime, not as a snack.
	For a drink include milk or water.  Small cartons of pure fruit juice are easy to transport but remember these should be diluted to 1 part juice to at least 2 parts water.  Squashes should be diluted to 1 part juice to at least 8 parts water.