Guidelines for Parents - Lunch and Snacks Policy
At Clifden Community Playschool we include a snack and lunch break to encourage the practice of children managing their own food and eating together. We ask that only healthy options are provided in your child's lunch box. Ensure your child has a lunch box or bag that they can open and close themselves and that their drinks container is also manageable for them. Please label your child's lunchbox/bag with their name.
Ideas for the lunch box
Your child will have breakfast/lunch before preschool and will have lunch/dinner afterwards. They need very little in between – so lunch is largely about the routine of managing and eating together. Keep portions small and make sure containers are easy to manage. You could include:
Lunch Box Tips and Ideas
Items to avoid
Ideas for the lunch box
Your child will have breakfast/lunch before preschool and will have lunch/dinner afterwards. They need very little in between – so lunch is largely about the routine of managing and eating together. Keep portions small and make sure containers are easy to manage. You could include:
- Sandwiches – Wholemeal, granary bread, pitta bread, wraps, bagels, crackers, rolls, etc. Just provide small portions cut to appropriate sizes.
- Fillings – Chicken, ham, turkey, chicken, bacon, hard boiled eggs, tuna, smoked salmon, cheese, jam, hummus,
- Add extras - Sweet corn, cucumber, grated carrot, chopped peppers, avocados, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, light mayonnaise, cream cheese, cottage cheese and homemade salsa etc.
- Rice/Pasta
- Portion of cubed cheddar cheese, cheese stick or triangles
- A small container of raisins, dried fruit, mixed berries, fruit puree, fruit salad
- A small container of sliced cucumber, chopped peppers, grated carrot, or halved cherry tomatoes
- Drinkable or spoon-able yogurt
- All varieties of fresh fruit (cut apples, mango, pineapple, oranges, halved seedless grapes, watermelon, and mandarins). If including whole fruit in the lunchbox, select fruit that is a suitable size for a child to easily hold in their hand and eat.
- Water in a refillable bottle
- Fruit Juice or smoothies
- Milk or yoghurt drinks
Lunch Box Tips and Ideas
- Be creative, ask your children what they would enjoy eating for their snack or lunch. No matter how healthy your child’s lunch is, it is no good if it doesn’t get eaten. Involve them in preparation and packing. Give your child options and get them involved in choosing what they want to eat. If they don’t like certain foods at home, they won’t like them in their lunch box. Don’t pack too much food – small portions are easy to eat and allows your child to move on to other activities.
- Pick the healthiest options for your children. Limit sweet treats in their lunch box. If you want to include something sweet, a plain biscuit, oat meal bar or mini muffin is best. A healthy lunch boosts children’s energy and helps them concentrate and learn throughout their day.
- With your child develop a 5 day plan of lunches. This helps busy parent’s pre plan. It will also help when you are doing your grocery shop.
- Vary the food so children don’t become bored. Choose foods that will keep your child from feeling hungry throughout the session.
- Rather than constantly spending money purchasing plastic bags, use reusable bags and containers that are easy to manage for your children.
Items to avoid
- Fizzy Drinks
- Sweets and/or chocolate
- Peanut butter/nuts (in case of allergies)
- Crisps
- Items that present a choking hazard - whole grapes, carrot sticks etc.
