• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

Packing a healthy lunch box for child care, preschool or school

When you’re food shopping, buy enough healthy food to make your child’s lunches for the week. This makes it easier to come up with healthy lunch ideas each day.

Let your child choose their own healthy lunch box food. Your child is more likely to eat food they’ve chosen themselves. Packing the night before gives your child time to choose carefully.

Include foods from each of the 5 food groups in your child’s lunch box. This gives your child the energy and nutrients they need to grow, learn, play and stay healthy.

Colourful, environmentally friendly and healthy lunch box ideas

Aim for a ‘rainbow’ of different-coloured fruits and vegetables in your child’s lunch box. This gives your child more chances to get all the nutrients they need.

Pack fresh foods with minimal packaging. Try reusable containers, pockets and wraps. They’re better for the environment and easier for kids to open and handle.

Tap water is the best drink for your child. Send a refillable water bottle with your child each day. Avoid sugary drinks like fruit juice, soft drinks and flavoured milk.

Safe, interesting and healthy lunch box ideas

Keep food cold until you pack it. Add a frozen water bottle or use an insulated lunch bag to keep food cool. Check whether allergy-causing foods like nuts should stay at home.

Try options like sushi, salads, pasta, rice and noodles. A variety of sandwich or wrap fillings can keep your child interested too. Check out tasty and healthy lunch ideas.

Avoid packing ‘sometimes’ foods like chips, cakes, biscuits, and chocolate. These foods aren’t healthy choices. They’re high in saturated fats, sugar and salt.

Download printable version

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Join 60,000 subscribers who receive free parenting news. Sign up now
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2023 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.