If your school is on a balanced school day schedule, it means that your child will have two ‘nutrition breaks’ during the day, with approximately 20 minutes at each break to eat.
The first break is around mid-morning, with the second break happening around early afternoon.
Follow these steps to help you pack a lunch for a balanced school day:
1. There’s no need to pack two lunches – you can divide the lunch into two portions. Ask your child how they
would like their lunch and snacks divided.
1 Lunch
- Sandwich
- Baby carrots
- Cheese cubes and crackers
Lunch divided into 2 breaks
- Half a sandwich
- Baby carrots
- Water/milk
- Half a sandwich
- Cheese and crackers
- Water
2. Pack the lunches into easy to open containers. Label the containers as “break 1” and “break 2”.
3. Check with your child to make sure they are getting enough food during the day. Adjust portions based on
their appetite.
Sample Menus
Break 1
- Yogurt and a banana
- Water
Break 2
- Leftover vegetables and beef stir-fry with rice in a thermos
- Water
Break 1
- A cup of lentil soup in a thermos
- Grapes
- Water
Break 2
- Half a chicken salad sandwich
- Cut up vegetables (raw or steamed)
- Milk
DON’T FORGET...
REMIND YOUR CHILD TO WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE EATING.