Win a R500 Woolworths gift card, plus back-to-school healthy and creative lunchbox ideas

Moms often ask me for cool - and new - food ideas for kids, and especially lunchbox tips. I'm no dietitian, and often can't think beyond what I see on Pinterest, or Marmite sandwiches and an apple (which now that I think about it, was my staple lunch for the whole of primary school). So I asked Cindy Chin, resident dietitian of Woolworths, to share some lunchbox inspiration - best of all, these ideas are healthy too, and don't involve simply placing a piece of fruit or lone vegetable in the bag and hoping for the best (hands up who's done this before!). Plus, you can win a R500 Woolworths gift card, with details at the end. For those who missed it, Cindy offered some good info and solutions for healthy eating here. And here are some great lunchbox ideas and tips too:

• Keep lunchboxes fun and exciting! Add variety by using different types of bread, dried and fresh sliced fruit. Vary textures and flavours by adding soft foods (such as dried fruit, yogurt and soft breads) along with crunchy items (such as fresh apple or pretzels).
• Sneak in fruit and vegetables by adding them to sandwiches and pasta salads, presenting it in different shapes and sizes (like fruit kebabs, dried fruit strips, fruit purees mixed with yoghurt). Don’t forget Woolworths’ wide range of ready-to-eat sliced fruits and conveniently pre-packed vegetable options.
• Plan ahead. Compile weekly menus, cook extra to use as part of your lunchbox and have different sized containers at hand to pack different items that form part of your lunch box. If you are adding perishable items to your lunchbox, pack them into a small cooler box or freeze your child’s water bottle to use as an ice brick.
• If your child refuses to eat wholegrain or seed bread, make checker board sandwiches by taking one slice of Woolworths Digest PLUS white bread and another slice of Woolworths Brown Low GI loaf, adding your favourite filling and slicing it into checkerboard blocks.
• Remember to use spreads sparingly and opt for healthier options such as mashed avocado, hummus, nut butters and reduced-oil mayonnaise.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS: LUNCHBOX MENUS Here are some balanced lunchbox menus to get you started: Lunchbox 1: Quick and easy (This menu also includes alternatives for kids who suffer from allergies or intolerances)

• Honey & Mustard Chicken Fillets 2 Go / Barbeque Chicken Fillets 2 Go
• Corn on the cob / mealie, boiled and cut into blocks (an alternative to bread for children with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance)
• Rosa Tomato, Cucumber and Carrot Snack Pack
• Blueberries ( 75 g snack pack)
• Berry Soya Smoothie (alternative for children with lactose intolerance)
• Sparkling mineral water – lemon or lemongrass & lime

Lunchbox 2: Sandwich option

• To Go Beef and Mustard Sandwich OR homemade roast beef sandwich made with Woolworths Low GI Full for Longer Brown Seed Bread, salad cream and mustard as a spread, 2 slices Traditional Beef Pastrami, sliced tomato, grated carrot and lettuce.
• 40 g Breakfast Booster
• 80 g Low Fat Ayrshire Low Fat Strawberry, Vanilla & Caramel or Berry Flavoured Yoghurt
• Kids Big 5 fruit nectar blend^&

Did you know: Woolworths Kids Big 5 fruit nectar blends are made from fruit juice that is diluted with water and contain no added sugar or preservatives. It’s the ideal drink to add to a lunchbox instead of undiluted juice, cordials or soft drinks. Did you know: The new low -at Ayrshire flavoured yoghurts for kids contain added calcium and Vitamin D to improve your child’s bone health. They also contain HOWARU™ probiotic cultures, which are clinically proven to improve general health when consumed regularly as part of a balanced diet.   Lunchbox 3: Salad option: Snack Pot or home made

• Homemade chicken pasta salad made with Woolworths Pasta Zoo animal shapes (or gluten free pasta), left-over roast chicken or BBQ Mini Chicken Fillets, Tangy Light Reduced Oil Mayonnaise mixed with a dash of chutney, chopped soft apricots, diced cucumber and red pepper.
• Sunripe Pineapple Snack Pot (180 g)
• 25 g Free Range Beef Sliced Biltong
• 100 ml Low Fat Ayrshire Strawberry or Granadilla Dairy Drink

Did you know: Woolworths tries to make it as easy as possible to pack healthy and balanced lunchboxes by providing a wide range of conveniently portioned lunchbox options – such as 30g portions of mixed nuts and peanuts & raisins; 40g packets Sundried Fruit Strips, Sundried Tropical Fruit Strips and 80g Snack Fruit & Nut Mix, Soft Eating Pears, Mango Strips and much more! Lunchbox 4: Vegetarian option

• Ready-to-eat Grain and Lentil Salad OR Roasted Butternut Rosa Tomato, Cucumber and Carrot Snack Pack with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (pack separately in a small container)
• 40 g Snack Fruit and Nut mix
• 100 ml HOWARU™ Vanilla Probiotic Drink
• Sparkling mineral water

Did you know: It has never been easier to sneak those extra veggies into your child’s lunchbox! Woolworths offers ready-to-eat vegetable ‘Snack Packs’: with Rosa tomato, cucumber and carrots OR Rosa tomato, cucumber and cheese. Lunchbox 5: Funky Friday box

• 2 Chicken and Pineapple Kebabs
• Mini Multiseed Wrap spread with low fat cottage cheese and filled with Superfood Beetroot and Carrot Salad OR Rainbow Salad
• 20g Slimmer’s Choice Pop Crisps or 15g Regular Mini Rice Crackers: Tomato
• Low Fat Strawberry Dairy Drink 6x100ml

  To enter to win a R500 Woolworths gift card, simply comment below, and your name will be entered into a draw. This competition closes on Wednesday 31 July at 9am, and the winner will be announced a week later.