The Mayor of London announced that from September 2023 every primary schoolchild in London will receive free school meals for the academic year 2023-2024

Caterlink are our current providers of hot school meals and meals must be ordered in advance. This is to ensure their kitchen staff know the number of meals chosen for each day. If you do not order in advance then please provide your child with a packed lunch.

Caterlink details are as follows:

Email:info@caterlinkltd.co.uk

Ordering Website: https://meals.caterlinkltd.co.uk/meals

Office hours: 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday 020 7607 6151 ext 2

 

• If your child does not require lunch due to sickness please advise the Caterlink office as soon as possible

 

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How to Keep Packed Lunches Healthy and Interesting

Nutritional Therapist, Amanda Ashy-Boyd, recognises this can be challenging, but urges all parents to “give children food that they know and love, and most importantly give them food that is real.” 

 

“Instead of biscuits, pack some purple grapes or blueberries. A cheap and easy protein option is a boiled egg. Protein is so important for children for many reasons, and one reason is to help keep their blood sugar balanced, which will help to keep their attention focussed. Also, make sure they get their veggies like corn, carrot or cucumber, which provides fibre and hydration. Even if it’s the same veg every day, pack it, along with one they might not be too receptive to, like red bell pepper for example – eventually they might try it. And, truly, avoid concentrated juice at all costs – this will not serve your child in anyway – water is the best option.

 

Keep it healthy at lunch time, and they will thrive for the rest of the day. Kids need brain food, and biscuits, cobbler and crackers won’t do them any favours. Treats are fun for lunch, so it’s okay to include them occasionally, but sticking with natural yogurt and fruit as their dessert, is the best option. Here are some ideas for healthy packed lunches for kids:

Ideas: 

– eggy muffins

– mashed banana & egg pancakes

– egg & cheese muffins

– turkey, cheese, cucumber wraps

– smoked salmon & cream cheese rolls

– tuna wraps

– cheese sandwich

– hummus & tomato sandwich

– quinoa, lemon & olive oil

– boiled egg

– veggies: olives, pickles, cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, green beans, celery, frozen peas, corn, left over cooked broccoli

– fruit: tangerine, grapes, berries, kiwi, sliced avocado, plum tomatoes, half a banana in skin, raisins, dates, apricots

– extras: cheese, natural yoghurt with a little honey, pretzels, popcorn, rice pudding, hummus, cream cheese, muffins, fruit rolls, pom-bear potato snack.

 

(Taken from www.thehealthyhappybaby.com)

 

If you would like more lunch box ideas, browse through the above website or search for amandaashyboyd on Instagram.