Back to school: top chefs on their favourite healthy packed lunches

Kids eating Cheesymite sandwiches in Devonport. File picture

Parents are not alone in their struggle to find healthy and easy packed lunches as kids prepare to head back to school.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

All articles from our website & app

The digital version of Today's Paper

Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox

Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia

All articles from the other in your area

Acclaimed chef James Cornwall said he struggled more with packing a great lunch box than he did designing dishes at Melbourne restaurants Cumulus Inc., Bonny and Ms Botanica.

"I find that keeping kids happy with their lunch box is tougher than keeping guests happy in the restaurant," he said.

"Kids are fussy and they constantly change their eating habits."

Mr Cornwall said the moment he though he'd "cracked it" his kids changed their mind and lost enthusiasm for what he was making.

"You have to start all over again," he said.

A classic ham and seeded mustard is very good but I love a sandwich with eggplant, parmesan, pesto and mozzarella.
- Chef Eilonwy Carr, The Woodhouse Bendigo

Top tips for school lunch

Mr Cornwall said he swapped between breads, wraps and buns to keep his kids interested in their school lunches and added vegetables by "slipping in" grated carrot.

"Carrot tastes great with most fillings and goes unnoticed so it's a good way to sneak veggies in," he said.

My favourite is a salad sandwich with chopped iceberg, shredded beetroot, grated carrot, thick-cut tasty cheese, butter, salt and pepper on soft wholemeal loaf or roast chicken, served cold, with salad cream and lettuce on a soft white roll.
- Chef Cian Fenaughty, Zsa's Bar Bistro Deli

"We sneak lots of finely cut vegetables into our kid's spaghetti Bolognese as well."

A wide top thermos was Mr Cornwall's lunch box favourite. He sent his children to school with leftovers or a warm soup on a cold day.

I love a sandwich with ham, salami and all the Italian cured meats with lots of cheeses.
- Chef Dean Gantelas, Eazy Peazy

Popcorn, made at the beginning of the week, salted lightly and bagged individually was a beloved lunchbox treat in his house, the chef said.

Childhood classic: tomato, ham and lettuce sandwich. Picture Canva

"Home-made muesli bars are great because you can control the amount of dried fruits, chocolate and sugar going into each one," he said.

It's hard to beat peanut butter and honey but a sandwich with chicken, mayonnaise, pesto, tomato, alfalfa sprouts and mint leaves is crunchy and delicious. Remember to add salt and pepper on the tomato!
- Chef Darcy Mills, Reine and La Rue

'Keep it nutritious'

Carbohydrates are a lunchbox staple for a reason, University of the Sunshine Coast dietitian Angela Cleary said.

"Multigrain or whole grain bread is great for energy and the less processed, the better," she said.

My favourite sandwich in school was a chicken, cheese and butter jaffle
- Chef Nabila Kadri, Supernormal

There were no "superfoods or magic bullets" in nutrition but Ms Cleary said parents should try to get a range of fruits and vegetables in their school lunch.

"Having different colours means you're going to get a variety of vitamins and minerals," she said.

Cool lunch box

Ms Cleary said parents could also consider the lunch box and whether it kept food fresh and appealing throughout the day.

Insulated lunchboxes meant treats like yogurt could safely be sent to school. A hard case lunch box also meant food wasn't pummelled before lunchtime.