#HartleysYourLunchbox

This post is an entry for BritMums #HartleysYourLunchbox Linky Challenge, sponsored by Hartley’s Jelly http://www.hartleysfruit.co.uk/.
Sticker stating "Hartley's Your Lunchbox" on a yellow background

When I was at school I’m fairly sure I would have a sandwich and a chocolate coated biscuit in my lunchbox. With my eldest daughter about to start school I thought it was time to look into what the rules are now as I’d heard that you aren’t allowed to have sugary things, but I’d never really paid much attention, I hadn’t needed to.

So what are the rules of children’s packed lunches?

Each day the lunch must include:
  • One portion of fruit
  • One portion of vegetable or salad.
  • Meat, fish or other non dairy protein
  • A starchy food e.g. bread, pasta, rice, noodles, potatoes
  • A dairy food e.g. milk (skimmed or semi skimmed) cheese or yoghurt


And no:
  • sugary drinks (e.g. fizzy drinks). Fruit juice and smoothies are allowed
  • crisps
  • chocolate bars
  • chocolate coated biscuits
  • sweets


I’m seriously considering school lunches until my daughter’s leave school!

For me a school lunch has to meet the following criteria:
  • It tastes good. If it’s not eaten then children won’t be able  to concentrate and you will waste lots of money.
  • It needs to be ok with getting warm. You can put it in an insulated bag or include an icepack, but I would still worry about meat etc staying fresh
  • It needs to survive the journey. Children aren’t going to treat their lunch like a precious cargo so it need to survive being shaken, jiggled and thrown. If there is a drink and ice pack in there as well these will just add to the bruising.
  • It needs to have a long life. Fresh ingredients are obviously great, but I don’t want to be shopping every few days.
  • It needs to be quick to make.


My lunchbox ideas


Main:
Sandwiches with fish or sliced meat filling, pasta or potato salad

Sides:
An apple, small orange thing (eg satsuma), banana, raisins or dried apricots for when I have nothing fresh
Carrot sticks, cucumber, tomato 

Something fun:
Breadstick, crackers or Hartley’s No Added Sugar Jelly Pots.

M doesn't eat dairy so I don't need to worry about that guidance, but an occasional soya yoghurt might make a change

Drink:
Bottle of water 

To make sure everything is as in as good condition when opened at lunch time as when packed I plan to get lots of pots and wrap a napkin around the fruit.

Of course the important thing I was missing is that they all have to be carried in a great lunch box which is big enough and that children are proud to carry.

In stores from July onwards, Hartley’s will offer consumers the chance to collect 12 special edition green lids from across the No Added Sugar Jelly Pots (115g), to claim a free Hartley’s lunchbox and stickers.
A yellow Hartley's lunchbox being decorated with stickers by a child's hand

Consumers can claim their exclusive lunchbox by heading to the Hartley’s website www.hartleysfruit.co.uk. Each one comes complete with a sticker sheet of Hartley’s much loved characters and a sticker alphabet for children to personalise their lunchbox.

1 comment

  1. Important point about making sure lunch survives the journey. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.

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