Once of the most dreaded tasks for parents of school-aged children is packing a school lunch box, so here are a few handy ideas to help turn the task into a success, not a stress, thanks to a little bit of forward planning and freezer space.
Single serve of yoghurt
You can buy yoghurt in single serve tubs, or alternatively portion out large tubs of yoghurt into small individual sized freezer-safe containers. They both freeze exceptionally well, and will ensure your child will have cold yoghurt for lunch, and perhaps even a delicious tub of frozen yoghurt to enjoy if the weather isn’t too hot! Yummo.
Sandwiches
Yes, you can make and freeze a sandwich ahead of time. Yay! No more last-minute scrambles to throw a sandwich together as you’re running out the door. Choose a good quality multigrain bread, as they freeze the best, and lightly butter the bread to help stop it from going soggy once thawed.
As for the filling, cooked meats such as chicken or lamb, a slice of meatloaf or your standard deli meats are all good fillers. You can combine the above with a little mayonnaise, chutney or cream cheese, but don’t go too overboard with the wet ingredients. Avoid fresh tomato, lettuce leaves and cucumber, as they don’t defrost well. But you can always pop them in the lunchbox separately for your child to add later.
Then wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap, label it, and freeze it for up to a week. There is no need to thaw the sandwich before you put it into your child’s lunchbox, as it will thaw by the time lunch comes around.
Fresh fruit
Cut oranges into quarters, then reform them back to their natural shape, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. You can also freeze grapes, blueberries, diced mango and nectarine and peach wedges. Put the frozen fruit into a small container before putting into the lunchbox.
You can also freeze corn fritters, wholemeal pikelets, muffins, muesli bars and energy balls.
You might also like:
6 easy ways to make your child’s lunchbox waste-free
5 healthy snacks perfect for the school lunchbox
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