Back to school is well and truly upon the country by now with new research from Australian Bananas revealing that a sample of more than 1000 Aussie parents shows what we as Mums and Dads fear the most about back to school. While some of the obvious ones include technology and device use (76%) and increased back-to-school costs (57%), it’s the new-age lunchbox that almost half of all parents are scared of (49%).
The fears come amidst new age lunchboxes, long lunchboxes, slimline lunchboxes, colourful and mono lunchboxes, bento boxes, liquid proof/spillage avoidance lunchboxes, square lunchboxes, round lunchboxes, lunchbox cooler bags, lunchbox cooler totes and lunchbox cooler iceblocks, bricks and gels. There is no doubt that the brown paper bag is out and fashionable containers to carry your food in, are in.
Add to that new guidelines on what ‘should’ be in your child’s lunchbox from plastic-free to wrapper-free entirely or a minimum 2 fruits for fruit break, which – don’t get confused - is separate from morning tea.
The research from Australian Bananas also revealed that while most (70%) Aussie parents find it increasingly difficult to stick to the evolving school lunch box guidance, nearly all parents (93%) shared that they include a banana in their kids’ lunchbox. Ex-Bachelor turned awesome husband and father, Tim Robards has teamed up with Australian Bananas to share the incredible nutritional benefits and value, to not only everyday lives but to lunchboxes.
According to the Australian Bananas website, we learn that not only are they packed with natural carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and potassium – a balanced blend of goodness that makes them ideal for restoring little muscles and boosting bored brains - but they’re also great for tuning up the nervous system by providing 15% of your daily B6 needs for nerve function. Maybe that's why you’ll often find elite athletes munching on a banana before, during and after exercise.
Besides Bananas, What’s On The Lunch Menu?
Classic sandwiches such as peanut butter or ham, observed the highest decline in popularity, paving the way for new favourites – you guessed it, sushi and salad! Also in decline are the trusty plastic lunch boxes, with paper lunch bags virtually non-existent, making bento boxes and cooler bags the new norm.
Top Lunchbox Hacks and Tips:
- We have all tried ways to stop apples turning brown. One recent TikTok tip is to rinse and dry sliced apples before bagging them.
- Make a healthy popcorn mix to last all week. Just add caramelised nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and chunky shredded coconut then keep in air tight container all week long, perfect for scooping out each day.
- Buy ‘kid-sized’ bananas to fit perfectly into the lunchbox side container as large ones never fit.
- Reduce costs by making your own cheese and cracker snack pack, instead of paying an exorbitant amount for the pre-packaged version. Just grab a Salada and snap it into the intended 4 pieces, then slice several pieces from a block of cheddar cheese.
- Tim Robards says "My biggest lunchbox hack is to prep 90% of the lunchbox ahead, for successful and efficient packing. I’ll prepare my daughter Elle's snacks and veggies/fruits ahead of time and then all you need to do is drop the main meal in the lunchbox on the day, which could be last night’s leftovers . . . easy!"
