Think outside the (lunch) box with these imaginative recipes from Mrs Crunch
Great value recipes in association with Morrisons
BACK to school needn’t mean going back to boring packed lunches.
Stick to some basic rules to ensure that your kids get all the nutrition they need — then you can let your perfect picnic imagination run wild.
Always include some starchy carbohydrates — ideally wholegrain. But it needn’t be plain old slices of bread. You could try rolls, pitta breads or wraps.
Morrisons nutritionist Bryonie Hollaert says: “If your kids refuse wholegrain, try one of the white with wholemeal mixtures. They’ll never know!”
Also aim to include protein, choosing from things such as chicken, hummus, tuna, eggs and salmon.
Fruit and vegetables are essential, too.
If your kids refuse wholegrain, try one of the white with wholemeal mixtures. They’ll never know!
Bryonie says: “Fruit is usually the easy bit but it’s important that children eat plenty of veggies, too.
“Cherry tomatoes, carrot and cucumber sticks are an easy win, but you could also try sliced sweet red and yellow peppers, celery or crunchy sugar snap peas.”
Add cubed hard cheese but watch out for added salt in some pre-packed cheese snacks.
And instead of sugary yoghurts, Bryonie suggests trying plain yoghurt in a reusable pot, with raisins or other dried fruit added for sweetness.
RELATED STORIES
Rainbow wraps
Makes four
YOU NEED:
4 tortilla wraps, 4tbsp tomato and basil hummus
2 large carrots, grated
2 little gem lettuce, shredded
2 tomatoes halved and thickly sliced
1 avocado with stone removed and thickly sliced
3 pickled beetroot cut into batons
150g sweetcorn canned and drained
METHOD:
Lay two tortillas, overlapping slightly, on a piece of greaseproof paper.
Spread half the hummus over the middle of the tortillas then top with half the carrot, little gem, tomato, avocado, beetroot and sweetcorn and season.
Fold the sides of the tortillas in, then roll up tightly from the bottom edge, using the paper to keep it tight.
Finally, wrap the paper round the sandwich and twist the edges to secure the roll.
Cut at an angle across the middle to create two wraps.
Repeat to make two more wraps.
The munch bunch
KEEP their tummies happy with these tasty fillings. . .
— Hummus and grated carrot.
— Cheese and avocado.
— Marmite, cream cheese and cucumber.
— Tuna and sweetcorn.
— Egg or prawn mayonnaise with lettuce and tomato.
— Tinned mackerel blended with cream cheese.
— Falafel with hummus or plain yoghurt.
— Leftovers – roast chicken or beef, sausages or salmon. Just add salad.
Apple & oaty biscuit lollies
Makes 16
YOU NEED:
175g self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder
80g porridge oats
1 pinch cinnamon
175g butter
2tbsp golden syrup
50g dried apple finely chopped
20g chocolate dots
METHOD:
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas 4. Line two baking sheets with non-stick baking parchment. Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and stir in the oats and cinnamon.
Melt together the butter and syrup then pour over the dry ingredients, add the apple and mix well to form a soft dough.
Divide the mixture into 16 balls, push a lolly stick into each one, cover the stick with foil to prevent it browning and place well apart on the baking trays.
Flatten each one slightly and scatter with a few chocolate dots.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden, allow to cool on the tray for ten minutes then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Go nutty for seeds
TRANSFORM your hungry little monsters into angels by filling them up with healthy after-school snacks.
Home-made flapjacks and whole-wheat muffins can pack in wholegrains and fruit and keep added sugars to a minimum.
Pre-packed plainer cakes such as malt loaf and scones are also good choices.
Air-popped popcorn, or homemade with just a pinch of salt or cinnamon for sweetness, contain fibre and always feels like a treat.
Combine almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts with pumpkin and sunflower seeds and toast in the oven for a few minutes, then mix with raisins and chopped, dried fruit and keep in an airtight container.
Or go for whole-wheat crackers, such as oat biscuits, with their favourite topping and a piece of fruit.
Other options are fruit toast, teacakes, brioche or a bagel topped with nut butter.
And yoghurt blended with a handful of frozen fruit makes a delicious smoothie.
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