Dole Out Healthier Lunches

It’s back to school time again—but it’s not just the children who have their work cut out! Packing a healthy lunch with kid appeal can be a real challenge, but help is on hand. Dole Fruit Pots has teamed up with leading dietitian Lyndel Costain for some top tips to help keep you and your family on track.

Lyndel’s tips for a healthy lunchbox:

• Include at least one item from each of the 4 main food groups: bread and cereals; fruit and vegetables; milk and dairy; and meat, fish, eggs or beans.

• Add variety by using different breads, such as wholemeal, granary or rye, or wraps, pitta, bagels or rolls.

• For a change try rice, noodle, couscous or pasta based salads, pizza or frittata, or a colourful mixed salad with a fresh roll.

• Include protein-rich ingredients in fillings and salads - lean meat, chicken, turkey, tuna, egg, hummus, beans, lentils, tofu or different cheeses.

• Make sure some fruit and vegetables go into lunchboxes. A pot of fruit in juice, fresh or dried fruit, cherry tomatoes, salad or vegetable sticks all count.

• Alternatives to crisps and sweets include: pot of fruit in juice, fruit yogurt, pot of rice pudding, boiled egg, cheese portion, fruit scone or bun, oatcakes, a small cereal bar or flapjack.

• Include a drink. Water, milk, pure fruit juice and home-made fruit smoothies (made using pureed soft fruit or fruit in juice and milk) are great choices.

• If your child needs some encouragement to try new things, it can really help to involve them in lunchbox planning and shopping.

Ideally keep food and drinks cool with an insulated lunchbox or coolbag, ice pack or frozen carton of drink in lunchboxes. If your child has a diagnosed food allergy discuss their dietary needs with their school.

Dole has lunch in the bag!

Don’t scour the aisles for a healthier lunchbox choice; look out for Dole’s 5 A Day approved Fruit in Juice pots. Each delicious pot contains the goodness of real fruit pieces, prepared in a fun way that your kids will love—making unfinished lunches a thing of the past. What’s more, each 113g pot of Dole Fruit in Juice count as one portion of fruit. Choose from refreshing Pineapple in Juice or exotic Tropical Fruit in Juice.

Remember that Dole’s Fruit in Juice pots are fat free and are a good source of Vitamin C, so pop a pot into lunchboxes with confidence. And as there’s no need to keep them in the fridge, you can enjoy the convenience of Dole’s fruit pots anytime and anywhere.

Also look out for Dole’s other fruit pot varieties. Liven up lunchtimes with Dole’s Fruit in Jelly pots combining mouth-watering juicy jelly with real fruit pieces. And for an indulgent yet low fat snack, sit back and enjoy Dole’s Fruit Parfait pots—a delicious blend of real fruit pieces and a light-tasting crème.

Dole’s range of fruit pots can be found in Asda, Tesco, Somerfield, Waitrose, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s. Visit Dole.co.uk for more information.