Tell Soreen about your healthy snacks that pass lunchbox police scrutiny- £300 to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

Most Mumsnetters are probably familiar with the concept of the lunchbox police - those whose job it is at your child’s school to ensure pupil’s lunchboxes meet a certain standard. The fact is, whether you like them or not, if there are lunchbox police at your DC’s school, you have to make sure your snacks comply with their rules. This being the case, Soreen want to know about your go-to recipes for healthy snacking that get past the beady eyes of even the toughest lunchbox police officer.

Here’s what Soreen have to say about their Lunchbox Loaves: "We know how hard it is to find a snack for school lunchboxes that’s both nutritious and tasty but Soreen Lunchbox Loaves strike that perfect balance. Available in Malt and Banana flavours with a satisfyingly squidgy texture, Lunchbox Loaves are individually wrapped, low in fat, contain only 95 calories and provide a source of fibre.

If that wasn’t enough, Soreen Lunchbox Loaves are also suitable for vegetarians and meet guidelines set by the Children’s Food Trust for ‘School Foods Standards’ - so you should have no problem getting them past the lunchbox police."

To help other Mumsnetters branch out beyond bread sticks and yoghurt, tell us about your best lunch box recipes for the ultimate police-proof snacks. Post on the thread with your healthy alternatives to chocolate, crisps and cakes and you could be in with a chance of winning a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

My kids have now left school, but I was never very inventive, just a sandwich and a banana or apple or grapes.

Raisins, dried apricots, grapes.

those little packs of fruit at the checkout in lidl are really good

carrot sticks with houmous

My daughter is a huge fan of carrots so I always put a "cutted" up carrot in her lunchbox.

I like to make salad pots and fruit pots with lots of variety to nibble to make sure that it is interesting, varied and at least some of it gets eaten! Raisins in little boxes are handy too!

we are lucky enough to not have to run the gauntlet of lunch box police, but I tend to send healthyish stuff anyway like fruit , cucumber or carrot sticks. I do think though that demonising certain foods is not helpful, - my motto is everything in moderation

Oh, it a minefield in some schools isn't it? I make lots of salads like pasta and pesto and sometimes just a hard boiled egg, cold cooked corn on the cob (halved) and carrot and cucumber sticks.

My usual fallbacks are apple/grape bags or the small boxes of raisins. Must admit, I've never thought of sending Soreen - might have to try that next term.

I use the individual wrapped soreen packs , yoghurt or fruit

Lion pasta (ravioli) is a lunch time favourite of my lo

you can never go wrong with a tangerine or banana

I just put fruit in lol theres not usually any complaints. I also make some oath biscuits and throw them in.

homemade granola bars and lots of chopped up veggies and fruit

Carrots, cheese and cucumber are all a big hit here!

The lunchbox police always steered clear of our sons lunchbox as he liked incredibly smelly stuff - such as mackerel in brine! haha. He loved boiled eggs and gherkins and sliced peppers. These days as he is older he doesnt like to have anything "different" which is a bit of a shame, but we still put in the carrot sticks, strawberries, rice cakes and various fruit along with the wrap/sandwich.

When I send in homemade cake or similar I sometimes get asked if it has nuts in it. No, I know it's a nut free school! I think schools actually prefer some processed crap in packaging so they're sure it passes there ideal. It's a bit boring that processed ham is ok and a much healthier nut butter is the devil incarnate!

Mini cheddars as a snack and some fruit along with the normal sandwiches

My son has fruit salads made up of chopped grapes, strawberries and blueberries, he also loves jelly so sometimes I do mini pots with peaches or strawberries inside, and if I am feeling really naughty I do him cold pasta with chicken & cucumber with a honey & mustard dressing.

Fruitshots & a banana

Flavoured rice cakes and a variety of fruit tend to go down well

Chocolate rice cakes, yummy without too many calories

My Dd loves slices of melon in her packed lunch which is a nice change from other sweet treats.

Im quite lucky my DC they love their fruit so have and apple or banana a small fromage frais and a Soreen lunchbox usually a wholemeal sandwich of ham or tuna xx

DD goes through phases of what she wants in her lunch box. She loves salmon/ cucumber and cream cheese sushi as a change from sandwiches. If she does have sandwiches it has to be tuna or ham.

Snacks vary. I like to put in fruit but more berries (strawberries, raspberries or cherries) than an apple or a banana as they come back uneaten more often than not.

I sometimes put in a handful of popcorn or some mini cheddar crackers. I do like to include a little pot of yoghurt or custard but I try to balance the lunch so for example I wouldn't put in custard and crackers on the same day.

For end of year school trips or on her birthday I do include something like an individual cake slice (mr Kipling type of thing) and have never had the lunch police complain yet. From what DD says quite a few children get crisps or biscuits in thier lunch box every day so I know in comparison my lunches are quite healthy. I'm all for treats in moderation. I also do full fat yoghurt where as the school sells the low fat stuff - I would rather she have the normal stuff than the low fat stuff that's full of fake food rubbish.