If my child has packed lunch, what should I include?

Should you decide to make a packed lunch, please put your child’s name on the lunch box and include a lunchtime drink of juice or water (not a fizzy sugary drink) in a leak proof container.

Recommendations for packed lunches:

• A starchy food, such as bread, rolls, pitta bread, naan bread, potatoes, rice, noodles. These foods are good for children to fill up on.
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• A good source of protein, iron and zinc such as meat, fish, beans, or eggs.
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• A good source of calcium such as milk, cheese, yoghurt or fromage frais.
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• One portion of fruit and one portion of vegetable or salad to provide all the other vitamins and minerals. A piece of fruit could be a 100% juice or piece of fresh fruit, dried fruit or tinned fruit in fruit juice. A piece of vegetable could be a carrot stick, salad or a piece of cucumber or cherry tomatoes.

No single food contains all the essential nutrients the body needs to be healthy and function efficiently so it is important that the content of the packed lunch is varied.

Please do NOT include:

• chocolate bars
• sweets and/or chewing gum
• nuts (including peanut butter sandwiches)

What about snacks such as crisps, cakes and pastries?

These foods should only be given occasionally. Children will then appreciate them more.
If these foods are included in packed lunches they might eat these first and not have the appetite to eat the other foods that will provide them with the important nutrients they need to grow and develop, be healthy and active. 

Crisps, cakes and pastries can be included in packed lunches on a Friday.

Water

We encourage all pupils to bring a drink of water in a bottle with a sports-type cap, and the pupil’s name written on the bottle. Water bottles can be purchased from the School Offices.  They can sip water throughout the day. Water is excellent for children’s hydration and this helps their brain function and learning.

We do not allow juice, squash or fizzy drinks to be taken during lesson time. 

What can I bring for a mid-morning snack?

Tenterden Infant School

Free fruit and vegetables are offered to EYFS and KS1 (FS-Yr2) pupils only and children have these during the school day.

Tenterden CofE Junior School

KS2 (Yr3-6) pupils can bring in their own healthy fruit or veg snack each day for mid-morning. 

Please note children are not allowed sweets, chocolate bars, nuts, crisps or fizzy drinks for their mid-morning snack.