Nutritious school lunches that don’t break the bank

As the cost-of-living crisis bites, packing a nutritious school lunch is tougher than ever.

Ultra-processed snacks dominate shelves, but smart swaps can save money and boost children’s health.

Box Divvy, a community-driven food network, helps families access fresh, whole foods and pantry items up to 30% cheaper than supermarkets.

The organisation has many hubs across the region run by community members including the Fountaindale hub run by Christy Passlow.

“As a mum of four I know how challenging it can be to create healthy lunchboxes without spending a fortune,” she said.

“Box Divvy allows me to access a wide range of healthy products, including great value fresh fruit and vegetables.

“By shopping seasonally, I can make our budget stretch further, plus our hub community is a great source of recipes and ideas. 

“My children love vegetable sticks and dip, honey popcorn and cheese with crackers.

“They also enjoy homemade sushi – I cook the H2G sushi rice from Box Divvy the night before then just put together in the morning.

“At the moment whole watermelons are such good value, I freeze slices so that on hot days it can be put into lunchboxes frozen.

“By crunch and sip time it’s defrosted and ready to eat, although still cold and refreshing.”

Research shows that diets high in processed foods are linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and mental health challenges, particularly in children.

“Families are feeling the pinch, but healthy lunches don’t have to cost a fortune,” Box Divvy co-founder Jayne Travers-Drapes said.

“Simple swaps, like using fresh, whole foods instead of processed snacks, can save money and boost nutrition.

“Community food networks can help parents access quality produce at fair prices, ensuring kids get a balanced, nourishing lunch.”

Some simple and nutritious lunchbox ideas include:

Keep it colourful: Bright, fresh foods are naturally more appealing and require little preparation – just wash and chop ahead of time for grab-and-go options, think carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and berries.

Make protein fun: Quick options like cheese cubes, boiled eggs, or pre-cooked chicken strips make lunch packing faster and more nutritious. Consider healthier alternatives to processed meats like salami, hotdogs, and sausages, which are high in harmful chemicals like N-nitroso compounds, nitrite, and nitrate preservatives, linked to cancers. Opt for tuna, turkey, beef, cheeses, tempeh, or lunch box tofu instead.

Skip the pre-packaged snacks: Save time and money by preparing batches of homemade popcorn, energy balls, or yoghurt and fruit in reusable containers.

Get creative and involve children: Transform lunchtime into a fun and engaging activity by involving children in the process. Set a project like buying a scrapbook to collect lunchbox ideas and recipes they enjoy – adding comments or drawings for each entry. Websites like Pinterest can be a treasure trove of inspiration.

Think leftovers: Cook once, eat twice. Pack last night’s roast chicken, pasta, or rice bowls for a no-preparation nutritious school lunch.