Thinking of new snacks and lunches every morning can be a challenge, especially when you want to make sure your children are getting all the nutrients they need. If you're on the hunt for some fresh lunchbox ideas, content creator and mum of two, Despina Notaras (@diaryofdespina) has just what you’re after. Her fun snack ideas will have your kids coming home each day with full stomachs and empty lunchboxes. The best part about these tasty meals is that they can be prepared ahead of time with fresh ingredients and then stored in the fridge or freezer so all you have to do is pop it in their bag the morning of!

Here are some of Despina’s favourite lunchbox combos and top tips:

Freezer friendly favourite: Mini Zucchini Quiches

These are a great snack to make-ahead as they are freezer friendly and can be used across multiple weeks. Prep a big batch on Sunday and pop them into mini muffin moulds to cook. Once cool, you can freeze them and just grab one or two to thaw in the lunchbox overnight. They are also a great way to include lots of shredded veggies too. Pick up everything you need on your next visit to Warwick Grove.
Pick up your fresh ingredients from Coles and Muffin moulds from House.

For the little ones: Bento-style lunchboxes

If you have younger kids, using a bento-style lunchbox is a great way to bring some fun to eating lunch at school and encourages them to try new things. The compartments make seeing food easy and helps keep different snacks separated. Find these at Kmart.

When packing the lunchbox, think about including healthy snacks like pre-cut fruit such as strawberries or watermelon and even dropping in a couple of grapes, all of which can be popped into silicone cupcake liners for some colour. You can find these at Kmart.  For lunch, a wholemeal wrap rolled tight with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and carrot ribbons and lean BBQ chicken breast, is perfect for smaller hands to hold and bite. For a healthy snack, add in small containers of dips, like hummus or tzatziki and pair with crunchy veggies; mini carrots or baby cucumbers are a great option as they don’t need any prep.

For the older ones: Fresh and filling

Teenagers are busy and have a bigger appetite, so you’ll want to make sure they have meals that feel substantial and provide sustained energy throughout the day. A great option is something like a pasta lunch. It’s a flavour-packed and filling meal that can even taste delicious cold, making it ideal for lunchboxes.

These can be quick-to-throw together by pre-cooking the pasta the night before and using store-bought sauces or dressings for a pasta salad style dish. Find a great range of sauce options, like a nut-free pesto, at Woolworths.

To make it even more filling, consider adding some protein, like cooked chicken breast, and veggies like cherry tomatoes, snow peas and even cannellini beans for extra sustenance.

Pair this meal with some hummus dip alongside a few toasted pita triangles or fresh crunchy veggie sticks like carrots, capsicum, or cucumber for a flavourful recess snack.

So, no matter how big or small the growing bodies are in your home, these are sure to become some of their favourite foods to see when they open their lunchbox. Head to Warwick Grove and grab everything you need to make lunches tasty and mornings easier.